Ouch!  I love to get good news!  I dread the bad.  Day before yesterday, I got some disturbing, shall I say, bad news?  Someone close to me had a setback and that really did take me down.  It is an emotional thing.

Never for a moment do I doubt God’s goodness, at least that is where I stand.  But even now, almost 90 years old, I am still shaken by what I think is bad news.  I buck myself up and ask, “Why do you doubt?”   Then God speaks lovingly to me, again.

I have no answer except to say that the bad news hurts, disturbs me, wounds me, so to speak.  I dread bad news!

If I can see a way through, my heart is at rest.  If I see only trouble and disappointment ahead I do not lose faith, at least I hope not, but just quake!  Will I never just treat every circumstance as a gift from God, whether I see it as good or bad?

I find consolation in knowing that Paul the Apostle had such feelings.  His feelings were often in turmoil.  Bless him, he was willing to share those struggles.  It is not a matter of unbelief, he and I still believe in the goodness of God and the companionship of Jesus, but it is a matter of confusion or getting disturbed.

Oh, Lord, shorten the hours of unease of soul.  Use bad news to highlight the good.  My faith is strong, my ability to apply it always is my challenge!

The good news that never changes for a moment is that God loves me!  He never leaves nor forsakes me. He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Never.  Amen.