33/365: When Bad News Arrives

Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. ~ Nehemiah 1: 2-4

Unexpected news will come. Sometimes it comes as a pleasant surprise while other times the news rocks us to the core.

Nehemiah heard something he couldn't deal with right away. So he sat down and fell apart. He mourned the news, fasted and prayed. But... what happened next is powerful. He got up and went into action.

God equipped Nehemiah to take action, but Nehemiah went to God before making a bold move. Remember this when you are surprised by unexpected news.

GO DEEPER: Nehemiah 1:5-11

NEXT STEP: Dealing with bad news? Go to God, first. Get equipped with solid instruction. Then get up and go with a plan.

michael f vinning

on 02/03/2023 at 04:35 AM

Praise report! We followed olio with the ENT after round of tests. My wife is now on 3 medicines that have brought her nearly instant relief from the worst of this minieres disease. Has cut way back on caffeine, drinking more water, and low salt diet. She’s had like 3 really decent days…I can feel the hope building up at the chance of having her back, her normal funny, generous, talented, beautiful self. I am praying this is the beginning of a new season, the last one was frickin rough, several family deaths by cancer topped off with my wife’s thing…yet because of Jesus I’m still sober, my kids still know I love them, the bills got paid! Thank you Jesus!! And thanks to every one of you that prayed with me over this!! Strength and courage brothers!

Delray

on 02/02/2023 at 09:22 PM

Robert I appreciate your vulnerability to share and the faith your have. Keep loving him, keep seeking him. I pray you both suffer well. I love today's kick start, lately I have been having it on my spirit to really pray for my community. There is such a work to be done. I feel like Nehemiah beseeching the Lord in regards to his ppl here. I pray my community and communities all throughout catch fire for him. God has promised to gather them into the place tht he has chosen but he will not do all the work. Same as bad news received, you have the choice, like Nehemiah, of how to respond and what to do next. Father is watching.

Nightrain48

on 02/02/2023 at 08:21 PM

Prayers to you and your wife Robert. I’m fixated on psalm 23 when I’m going through the valley and just remember your going through it and are not stuck in it. Wherever there is a shadow there is light! May the lord give you protection and direction during this time.

Matthew Brown

on 02/02/2023 at 06:19 PM

Praying for you and your wife Robert

Kevin Miller

on 02/02/2023 at 05:08 PM

I’m praying for you too Robert. One of the only things we know will come in this life Is hard or bad news. It’s true that with God in our side we can go through it.

Daryl Trowbridge

on 02/02/2023 at 04:23 PM

@Robert - I'm praying for you and your wife as well. May God grant both of you the strength to endure, the faith to trust Him completely, and the ability to witness throughout the duration of this trial.

Omar A.

on 02/02/2023 at 04:00 PM

Thank you all for sharing. Praying for you, your wife, and family Robert!

Joe Lizama

on 02/02/2023 at 02:54 PM

Thank you brothers for your continued wise words of true testimonies, amen 🙏 amen 🙏 amen 🙏. And yes, Robert prayers to you, your wife and family 🙏. Have a blessed day!

Damon

on 02/02/2023 at 02:49 PM

I once heard this preached.” A Way to never make a wrong decision, bad decision or an unwise decision is to be led by the Holy Spirit. Regardless of the news, continuously seeking God’s will in prayer is just wise. I’d much rather dodge unnecessary conflicts, failures

Jerome

on 02/02/2023 at 02:27 PM

Robert, praying for you and your wife. Good words of wisdom by Ashley and Boyce this morning.

Brandon Pembleton

on 02/02/2023 at 02:24 PM

Things can indeed rock us to our core. I know they can rock me, the human part of me. My youngest daughter went through a lot last year and it was lots of random news drops that would be gut punching. The human and Marine in me wanted to go into drill instructor mode to fix it and apply internet pressure, but this was just the mortal part of me wanting what I wanted when I wanted it. I know from my own journey the more I was forced to do something the more I resented it. I had to pause everytime and go to God. It would remind me to be loving and empathetic first. For if God is the embodiment of the perfect father then I should do my very best to do that. So I should grace and love. I let natural consequences do their thing and simply reminded my daughter I love her and she can be free from the struggles anytime she's ready, but she will have to take action towards her own relationship with God. I had to be patient as this isn't something someone usually gets immediately. God's grace and miracles began to work in her. Slowly but surely she started asking me about God and her own relationship with him began. I thank you God for helping me take all of the bad news last year in stride and teaching me to recognize it as a crucible to mold my daughter and I. You truly are a miracle worker in hard times. I love you God amen 🙏

Tim Debronsky

on 02/02/2023 at 02:10 PM

Robert you and your wife are in my prayers. God is good and faithful.

Boyce Moses

on 02/02/2023 at 02:02 PM

No matter what the news, we need to go to God and pray for guidance. When we immediately, emotionally react many times we make matters worse. Take the time to rationally look at a situation and come to a course of action. The Lord is with us, go to Him. Love you Jesus! 🤍💜💛❤️

Ashley Jarvis

on 02/02/2023 at 01:55 PM

One of the lenses of truth I had to learn to hold up at my life and surroundings, was a “lens of news”. Ive learned to try and remember that there is no such thing as good news or bad news, there is only news. Whether it is good news or bad news, is based on our perspective and how we perceive the news in relation to our expectations, and our wills. News, is a great way to honestly gauge where our faith is at in regards to truly surrendering and trusting God’s will for us, and others around us. Please don’t think I mean that we’re jump in joy when we get news a loved one has passed… I just mean that it’s more about remembering the times we’ve witnessed something incredibly beautiful emerge from tragedy, when we are faced with tragedy. That it has been through times of great despair, we emerged stronger and more faithful. Like an arrow being pulled tightly back, we should focus on not breaking under the pressure, trusting that God is about to launch us into something great. We do this enough times, and we will learn to embrace the tension and challenges, despite the sorrow and pain that it will also include.

Michael

on 02/02/2023 at 01:20 PM

Prayed for you and your wife.

John Beales

on 02/02/2023 at 12:56 PM

Prayers for you Robert and your wife. Asking for peace, comfort and healing in the mighty name of Jesus. God bless

Big Lou

on 02/02/2023 at 12:54 PM

Praying for you and your wife Robert. God is good!

Jess

on 02/02/2023 at 12:48 PM

Praying for you, Robert.

Tim

on 02/02/2023 at 12:03 PM

Praying for you Robert!

Robert McFaddin

on 02/02/2023 at 11:55 AM

My wife has lupus, sjogrens, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, reynauds disease, and root reabsorption. They are all autoimmune diseases. About a month ago we found out she has blood clots and in her kidneys some sort of cysts. We do not know what’s next. This is hard for us. Especially with our marriage being a major disaster most of the time. Idk why this is happening. I DO KNOW God is in control. Even if she were 100% healthy and if we had a perfect marriage the death rate for the human race is still 100%. God is STILL in control. It’s a cliche, but “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future”. God is good always. Always God is good!!! He IS trustworthy - no matter what happens!

33/365: When Bad News Arrives

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