2 Kings 19:14-15
“And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.”
If you’ve ever received bad news, you’ll always remember the place that it came to you. I’m talking about the type of news that is monumental and it changes your life and world. You will probably have a handful of times in your life when you receive this type of news.
When bad news hits you, your first response is, “What do I do?” I imagine that is what Hezekiah felt like when he received word that the king of Assyria was coming to destroy his country. He knew the strength of the Assyrian army. He knew that no country had been successful in their bid to defend their homeland from the armies of the Assyrians. Now, he faces the same army, and the news came through a messenger who stood on his doorstep demanding his surrender. Hezekiah’s response to bad news is exactly how you should respond to bad news when it comes your way.
First, don’t panic. Whenever bad news comes, it is a natural response to panic, but you must find it in yourself to hold back the panic. The initial wave of the bad news can seem detrimental, and the natural response is to panic and run. Whenever bad news comes your way, you must hold your emotions in and not panic.
Second, pray! One of the greatest tools a Christian receives at salvation is the tool of prayer. Hezekiah knew that panic could not help him, but he completely understood that his only hope came through prayer. Likewise, your only hope for any bad news you receive is prayer. God is the only One Who truly knows the gravity of your situation. You must run to Him in prayer and ask for help.
Third, realize the power of God can handle your situation. Hezekiah in his prayer said, “…thou art the God,…” This statement was an acknowledgement of the power of God. He knew that God alone was his only hope. Christian, when bad news comes, you must acknowledge that the power of God is your only hope, and that He alone can help you. Hezekiah understood it was out of his hands, and that it was in the hands of God to deliver them. Likewise, you must pour out your heart to God and ask Him for His power to deliver you from the bad news.
Fourth, wait and trust God. After Hezekiah prayed, he had to wait. I’m sure it seemed like an eternity for God to come through, but God came through. If you have asked God to help you, then you must trust that He will come through. Stop trying to work everything out in your power, and trust God to work it out for you. You simply need to keep doing what you are supposed to do, and you will find that God will come through.
When that monumental news comes that seems to turn your world upside down, you must realize that God is your only hope. Don’t be afraid to pour your heart out to God, for He wants to be your help. I know you may think your world is over, but you must trust God that He has everything under control. Pray and pour your heart out to God, and then go do what you are supposed to do. You will find that your trust in God will put Him into action to deliver you from your bad news.