How does listening to the news make you feel these days?
Does it make you happy and hopeful? Or does it leave you feeling a little bit more anxious and a little heavier in heart?
We are living in difficult times—and everywhere we look we are bombarded with information that breeds stress and anxiety.
News channels, newspapers and news feeds are full of speculation and negativity.
I don’t know about you, but this steady diet of anxiety is making my heart heavy.
So Proverbs 12:25 has a really timely word for us:
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” (NASB)
Isn’t that so true? I think we can all attest to that.
But where can we find that good word in the midst of all this bad news?
God’s Word. God’s Word is the good word that makes our hearts glad.
Because in it we find truths about God’s character and reminders of His promises to us!
Here are just a few of those good words from Scripture:
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NASB)
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11 (NASB)
“A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” Isaiah 42:3 (NASB)
“The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6 (NASB)
God’s Word brings hope.
So write down one of the verses mentioned above (or another good word you find in Scripture) and post it above your TV or computer—wherever you consume the most news.
That way, when the news comes on and your heart begins to sink with anxiety, you can buoy it up with the good news of God’s Word.
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation. www.lockman.org