Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 1:20-21

Last week as I thought about how we all face difficulties, I was reminded of four phone calls I received over the years that have changed life dramatically for my family. The first, was the call I received to learn my Dad was murdered and the last one was the call I received from my sister shortly after leaving my Mom in the hospital announcing her death. I’ll keep the others to myself, but the point is that each one of us can recall where we were when the phone rang.

Even more importantly is how we respond in the face of bad news.

Think for a moment about the man we know as Job. On a certain day, he received bad news from one messenger and then another and yet another and finally one more messenger.

• Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you” (Job 1:13-15).
• While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you” (Job 1: 16).
• While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you”(Job 1:17).
• While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you” (Job 1:18-19).

Notice the speed of these events -“While he was yet speaking.” First he lost his material wealth which was substantial, but then each of his employees was killed and finally all ten of his sons and daughters were crushed to death. In a matter of minutes, everything was lost for Job. Everything.

Life has a way of changing in an instant, doesn’t it? Yet, we can learn from Job’s response int he verses above. His response to devastating news was to lean in to his relationship with God, not turn away.

So how do we respond to bad news? Over the years, I’ve seen faithful people remain devoted to the LORD and turn to Him in times of despair and I’ve seen others who effectively turn away from God and try to carry the weight on their own. One response leads toward faith and restoration, the other leads to bitterness and resentment.