How to Handle Bad News
How do you respond to bad news? Do you immediately go into panic mode and begin to pray desperately for God’s intervention? Do you send out an emergency SOS signal asking as many people as possible to pray for you? How effective has this approach been? I suggest you try another approach which will be far more effective. It’s the approach Jesus took when faced with a crisis.
And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him…While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” (Mark 5:22-24, 35, 36 NKJV)
Notice how Jesus responded to bad news and a crisis. He refused to panic. Nor did He tell Jairus to pray harder or call for an emergency prayer meeting. He simply says to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” That’s Jesus’ way of dealing with emergencies!
Prayer is not your Savior; Jesus is! Prayer is effective in a crisis when it proves and demonstrates your faith. It is counter-productive when it is motivated by fear and doubt. Sadly, many prayers uttered during times of crisis are produced by fear and not by faith. And that’s why the results obtained are minimal at best!
Remember, in times of trouble, prayer is not your Savior; Jesus is! Don’t depend on prayer; depend on Him. It’s not your much praying that will move the hand of God. It’s your faith. The role of prayer in a crisis is to bring you to Him. It is to help you to become more conscious of Jesus’ presence, promise, and power. It is to help you to believe and stop being afraid.
So when bad news comes to shake your confidence and produce fear, the solution is not to “pray harder,” as though prayer is your Savior, but to “trust fully” as though the problem is no match for Jesus. Like He did for Jairus, Jesus will produce miracles and breakthroughs for you when you believe He has already heard your prayers, He is in full control, and He is at work in your situation, no matter how bleak things look.
Child of God, since you have already prayed and Jesus is with you, do not let bad news send you into panic mode. Fear not, only believe!
A Moment of Grace 
Wow thank you so much Bishop for this word of His grace. I’m truly edified!
Hi Bishop ,thank you Bishop for always bringing a word of encouragement. This word is real food. Learning how to respond to bad news .Thanks again
Amen. Thanks Bishop for this message.
Amen!
Thanks Bishop, trust and believe In Jesus he is the solution.
Bishop you are bless and what u said is appropriate and accurate according to the word of God because ignoring the situation and counting all joy exactly as God said to do is the attitude to have because you know the power that back you up and u use it.Also in line of what Bishop said Christians pray a lot but they don’t receive it because of UNBELIEVED yet they suppose to received it when they pray(marc11:24).Even James1:6-7 state clearly that without faith don’t expect receive anything from God.So its not how much you pray but is how much u believe and this will change the way you handle bad news.Bishop God bless yr heart and may he keep opened yr understanding.
Bishop, may the Lord continue to use you in reaching out to His people, and I pray to continue in been a HARD BELEIVER
I am blessed!!!! Thanks for the word
Amen!! Thanks Bishop.
AMEN!!!!!!
This brought tears in my eyes…in a good way.Even in the valley of shadow of death..he was there with us….Great article
This Message came at the right time
Truly blessed by this message
Thank you Bishop – you can’t believe what I am going through! And this message came from God for me – to show me the way- and God is working in my favor, I believe – I shall come out of this situation stronger and much better. The lord continue to bless you and use you to speak to his people. Amen!
His grace is sufficient.
May Jesus help us to focus on him.
May God help me to know how to respond to crisis and problem.
Thank you bishop for helping me to keep the faith.