How to React to Bad News with Faith

In a world filled with bad news—whether from the headlines or from the personal struggles we face—there is a deeper invitation to respond in a way that is both honest and hopeful. Nehemiah’s story begins with devastating news: his people are in great trouble and shame, and the walls of Jerusalem are in ruins. This is not just a historical account, but a mirror for our own lives, where we often encounter brokenness, disappointment, and pain. The first response Nehemiah models is lament. He sits down, weeps, mourns, fasts, and prays. Lament is not weakness; it is a passionate, full-bodied turning toward God with our grief. It is a biblical and healthy way to process sorrow, as seen in the Psalms and in the life of Jesus, who wept at the tomb of Lazarus.

But lament is not the end. Nehemiah moves from grief to acceptance. He confesses the sins of his people and himself, acknowledging that sometimes the bad news we face is the result of our own actions, and sometimes it is simply the reality of living in a fallen world. Acceptance is not resignation; it is the courage to face the truth, to confess where needed, and to bring our reality before God.

From acceptance, Nehemiah turns to declaring God’s promises. He remembers the covenant faithfulness of God, quoting the words of Moses and holding fast to the truth that God gathers, restores, and redeems. Even in the midst of judgment or consequence, God’s heart is to bring his people back and to work all things for good. This is not wishful thinking, but a deep trust in the character and promises of God.

Finally, Nehemiah responds with worship. He acknowledges God’s power, mercy, and grace, and asks for favor as he prepares to act. Worship is the culmination of lament, acceptance, and declaration—it is the act of turning our whole selves toward God, trusting that he can turn our mourning into dancing and our shame into glory. In Christ, we are not defined by the bad news of our lives, but by the good news of the gospel. Jesus exempts us from the penalty of our sin, lavishes us with mercy, and invites us to experience real life in him. No matter what bad news we face, Jesus still reigns, and his good news is for us today.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Lament is a holy and necessary response to bad news. Rather than suppressing or avoiding our pain, we are invited to bring our full grief before God, trusting that he welcomes our tears and complaints. Lament is not a lack of faith, but an act of faith that draws us closer to the heart of God. [41:07]
• 2. Acceptance is the bridge between grief and hope. It requires honesty about our circumstances, including confession when we are at fault, and the humility to acknowledge what we cannot change. Acceptance is not passive; it is the starting point for transformation, as we bring our reality into the light of God’s presence. [51:38]
• 3. Declaring God’s promises anchors us in truth when circumstances are uncertain. By remembering and speaking God’s covenant faithfulness, we resist the temptation to be defined by our failures or our pain. God’s promises are not just for the past—they are living words that sustain us in the present and guide us into the future. [55:02]
• 4. Worship is the ultimate response to both sorrow and hope. When we lament, accept, and declare, we are led into worship—a posture of surrender and trust. Worship is not just singing; it is the act of orienting our lives around the reality of who God is, even when we do not understand our circumstances. [58:41]
• 5. The gospel is the good news that transforms all bad news. In Christ, we are not defined by our sin, shame, or the brokenness of our world. Jesus has taken our place, given us mercy, and invites us to experience real life. No matter what we face, we can trust that God is working all things for our good and his glory. [63:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:49] - Praise the Lord: Opening Worship
• [31:00] - Responding to Bad News in Our World
• [32:06] - Personal Bad News and Its Impact
• [33:10] - God’s Word and Freedom in Difficult Times
• [34:01] - Transition from Ezra to Nehemiah
• [35:14] - Nehemiah’s Context and the Bad News
• [36:55] - Nehemiah’s Role and Historical Background
• [38:29] - Nehemiah Receives Devastating News
• [39:35] - Spiritual Reformation vs. Physical Restoration
• [40:26] - The Deeper Meaning of Rebuilding
• [41:07] - Nehemiah’s Immediate Response: Lament
• [42:27] - The Practice and Power of Lament
• [43:56] - Jesus and the Biblical Model of Lament
• [45:28] - Personal Story: Facing Failure and Taking Action
• [50:43] - Nehemiah’s Prayer: Lament, Acceptance, and Confession
• [55:02] - Declaring God’s Promises in the Midst of Bad News
• [58:41] - Worship as the Culmination of Our Response
• [61:51] - The Gospel: Jesus Exempts Us from Our Sin
• [63:12] - Invitation to Trust the Good News
• [65:51] - Communion and Baptism: Celebrating the Good News
• [74:46] - Closing Worship: Only You, Jesus

Bible Reading

Nehemiah 1:1-11 (ESV) — The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cupbearer to the king.

John 11:32-36 (ESV) — Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Observation Questions

1. What was Nehemiah’s immediate reaction when he heard the bad news about Jerusalem? ([41:07])
2. According to Nehemiah’s prayer, what did he confess to God on behalf of himself and his people? ([51:15])
3. In John 11, how did Jesus respond emotionally to the news of Lazarus’s death?
4. What promise does Romans 8:28 give to those who love God?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Nehemiah’s first response to bad news was to lament, rather than to take immediate action or try to fix the problem? ([41:07])
2. What does Nehemiah’s confession of sin (for himself and his people) teach us about accepting responsibility and facing reality in times of trouble? ([51:38])
3. How does remembering and declaring God’s promises, as Nehemiah did, help anchor us when we are facing uncertainty or pain? ([55:02])
4. The sermon says that worship is the culmination of lament, acceptance, and declaration. What does it mean to worship God even when we don’t understand our circumstances? ([58:41])

Application Questions

1. When you receive bad news—whether from the world or your personal life—what is your usual first reaction? Is it more like Nehemiah’s (lament), or do you tend to avoid, numb, or immediately try to fix things? ([42:07])
2. The sermon says, “Lament is not a lack of faith, but an act of faith that draws us closer to the heart of God.” What would it look like for you to practice lament in a real situation this week? ([41:07])
3. Nehemiah confessed not only the sins of his people but also his own. Is there an area in your life where you need to move from denial or blame to honest acceptance and confession before God? ([51:38])
4. The sermon encourages us to declare God’s promises, like Romans 8:28, in the face of bad news. Is there a specific promise from God’s Word that you need to hold onto right now? How can you remind yourself of it daily? ([57:20])
5. Worship is described as orienting our lives around who God is, even when we don’t understand. What is one practical way you can worship God this week in the middle of a hard situation? ([58:41])
6. The gospel means we are not defined by our sin, shame, or the brokenness of our world. Is there a “bad news” headline in your life that you have let define you? How can you begin to let the good news of Jesus reshape your identity? ([01:03:12])
7. The sermon mentions that Jesus “exempts us” from the penalty of our sin and lavishes us with mercy. How does this truth change the way you view your past mistakes or current struggles? ([01:01:51])