Twice last week I had an unexpected phone call from a loved one. In both cases, my first thought was that something was terribly wrong. I answered with trepidation, not knowing what was about to come. Fortunately in both cases, the caller immediately let me know that they were not reporting death or disaster but rather calling with incredibly good news. One reported a miraculous remission of her cancer. That was the sweetest, most uplifting news I have had in a long time. The other reported that she was making arrangements to fly down to see me in a few weeks and would run the last 5 miles of a Half Marathon with me to help me “over the line.” If you run long distances, you know what a blessing that will be. Listening to my audible book will only take me so far!

It seems to me that there isn’t enough good news going around these days. The horrific wildfires in California, the uncertainty of a new administration poised to take over our country in a matter of days, the changes in social media that are happening right now, and even the price of eggs seem to dominate our daily experiences, conversations, and our minds. Let’s face it: January comes with its own special challenges. A women’s event where I am scheduled to speak was postponed due to snow. In Atlanta. Go figure!

David wrote a beautiful psalm about what to do when the bad things seem to be overwhelming and overshadowing the good things. He wrote this in his later years, after he had experienced a fair amount of wickedness and evil. Listen to his counsel today as you consider where to turn when the bad seems to be winning:

Psalm 37 (New International Version)

 Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.

¹² The wicked plot against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth at them;
¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵ But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth of many wicked;
¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.
¹⁹ In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish:
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;
²² those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses will be destroyed.

²³ The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Look again at the beginning of verses 1, 3, 7 and 8. Here is what David is saying:

Do not fret.

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Commit your way to the Lord.

Be still.

Refrain from anger.

Truly, this is the better way to deal with all the bad news! David was right.

Of course, my favorite verse is verse 23: “The Lord makes firm the steps of one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall.” Good news for this runner! And if I do stumble, now my friend will be there to catch me.

What did you hear today in this Scripture? Are you focusing too much on the bad news? Can you be a source of better news to somebody today?

Remember, the Lord upholds us all with his hand. May we reach out a hand to uphold someone else.

S N O W by Kathy Schumacher