Some people seem able to endure almost anything that comes along in life.
Others might be knocked over with a feather.
Is it just a matter of disposition that certain individuals can cope so much better than others?
What makes the difference?
Our verse today is describing a specific class of people who delight in the teaching of the Lord—who practice righteousness, are gracious, compassionate, and they give to the poor.
It is this kind of person who is described as stable in a time of "bad news".
Certainly there may be a partial explanation for some people being stable in a time of trouble merely because of some inner aspect of personality. They are emotionally "wired" in a different manner to others.
This isn't the reason given in our verse for the stability of the Lord's people in times of trouble.
The Psalmist indicates that the reason God's people are not fearful in times of bad news is that they trust in the Lord.
God's children have tremendous confidence in their God and for good reason.
Today's verse doesn't say that God's people will never receive "bad news", but that they will not be afraid of it. They will remain calm because they know the Lord is sovereign, and all that happens is under His control.
Where trust in the Lord is great, fear cannot take up residence.
Weak faith can be shaken by distressing news but we say with John Newton: By faith let me wrestle and He will perform, with Christ in the vessel I smile at the storm.
Bad news will indeed come sooner or later to all who love Jesus, but the closer they walk with Him the calmer they will be.
Great faith produces great peace.
How can we not trust the One Who suffered so much for us, Who bled and died for us, Who is even now risen and seated at the right hand of the Father overseeing all things for our ultimate good?
Jesus is indeed worthy of all our trust.
Let distrust be gone from our hearts and minds.
May the peace of God which goes beyond understanding, keep us from fear and feed our faith until that glorious day when faith gives way to sight.
