Good News

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.” Psalm 33:4-5

I’ve gotten in the habit of turning off the evening news. I recently read an article that talked about news-induced pessimism. How we get our news and the way the news is presented has changed significantly over the last fifteen to twenty years. Psychologists tell us that these changes have often been detrimental to general mental health. Some people experience problems sleeping, mood swings, aggressive behavior or even PTSD just from watching the news. And it gets worse. Anxiety and stress caused by too much news consumption can even cause physical ailments such as inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health concerns.

The problem with the news is not that it’s news. It’s that it’s not good news. We need a mental diet that comprises quality food. Blogger Justin Osborn puts it this way, “If bad news equals junk food, then good news equals fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Think about the last time you heard good news. How did it make you feel? Studies show that good news can actually decrease levels of stress and anxiety. When Jesus walked the earth, he went about preaching good news. The good news he offered was that the kingdom of God is at hand. The good news Jesus preached is news of peace, hope, promise, salvation, and everlasting life. 

If you watch the evening news, you may come away thinking that everything is out of control. While it would seem that murder, corruption, violence and terrorism are filling the earth, this truth from Psalm 33 remains: God loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. Take some time each day to meditate on this good news. It might even improve your health.