Psalms of Summer : Psalm 112 (part 1)

Anchored in Chaos: Why the Righteous Have No Fear of Bad News

Psalm 112:7–10 and the battle-tested beauty of unshakable trust

Fear is everywhere.
Just scroll.
Headlines, heartbreaks, hashtags—all screaming for our attention.

So how can Psalm 112 make this claim?

“They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
 — Psalm 112:7

Was the writer living under a rock? No social media? No global crises?
Actually, ancient times were full of war, political unrest, and personal danger.

Yet even then, the righteous were anchored—not anxious.
 Here’s how.

1. Faith That Doesn’t Flinch

Let’s be honest—having no fear of bad news sounds impossible.
 But it’s not about pretending the pain isn’t real. It’s about standing firm because God is more real.

The Hebrew word for “steadfast” is nakon — firmly established, prepared, anchored.

Think of the faith it takes to say that.
This isn’t shallow optimism. It’s the kind of faith you find in people like…

  • Peter, stepping out of the boat in the middle of a storm

  • Your grandma, who buried children and still said, “We ought to be like palm trees—shaken but not broken”

  • You, maybe right now, navigating health, finances, or family tension you never saw coming

Trust isn’t built in comfort. It’s forged in chaos.

Sometimes, trusting God starts with tearing down the idols we lean on—control, success, comfort—and realizing they can’t carry us. Only He can.

“If my end result is You, I’m already blessed.”

2. Security Doesn’t Mean Safety—It Means Certainty

“Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.”
 — Psalm 112:8

The righteous still face enemies.
But they know how the story ends.

“But God…”
 That’s the holy interruption that rewrites everything.

  • “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” (Joseph – Genesis 50:20)

  • “But God did not give David into Saul’s hands.” (1 Samuel 23:14)

  • “But God remembered Noah…” (Genesis 8:1)

Do you have a “But God” story?
We all need one—and we’re probably living through one right now.

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” — Romans 16:20

The victory is already certain. The only question is: Will we trust His way or try our own?
 — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

3. Radical Generosity, Eternal Impact

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.”
 — Psalm 112:9

This is not conditional giving.
It’s not “If I have extra, I’ll give.” It’s freely scattered generosity—a lifestyle, not a transaction.

The righteous live open-handed and open-hearted.

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower… will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
 — 2 Corinthians 9:9–10

God doesn’t do math like we do.

  • 5 loaves + 2 fish = 5,000+ fed, 12 baskets left

  • Isaac reaped a harvest in famine

  • Daily manna came with a warning: Don’t hoard. Trust for tomorrow.

To live like this means trusting that our provision comes from heaven, not hustle.

And what’s the reward?

“Their horn will be lifted high in honor.”

In Hebrew culture, the horn symbolized strength, dignity, and elevation.
God lifts the humble. God honors the righteous.

“The measure of a life is not its duration, but its donation.” — St. Augustine
“Do all the good you can…” — John Wesley

4. What Happens to the Wicked? A Warning Worth Heeding

“The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.”
 — Psalm 112:10

This isn’t poetic justice—it’s eternal separation.

Jesus echoed this in Matthew 13:

“…They will be thrown into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth… Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (vv. 42–43)

This isn’t just about consequences. It’s about contrast.

The righteous are anchored, generous, secure, and honored.
 The wicked are fragile, envious, and forgotten.

💡 Real Takeaway: You Don’t Have to Fear the News When You Trust the Author of the Story

When your roots are in God, not circumstances—
When your heart is anchored, not anxious—
When your life is generous, not grasping—
You’ll shine. Even when the storm hits.

You’ll stand firm.
You’ll be remembered.
And your life will point others to the One who never fails.

Austin Largusa