Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV)
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
One of the most dangerous theological stances in our world today teaches us that Christians shouldn’t have bad days. When people paint a picture of Christianity that says that everything in life becomes perfect the minute that we believe Christ, they set people up for failure. Whether you’ve been following Christ for 50 years or five days, you’re probably already keenly aware that Christians have bad days, too.
In the passage we just read, Christ completely debunks that line of teaching. Jesus promised that it rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. That means that no matter how much we love God, we’re going to have some bad days.
Bad days can come in a variety of forms. Obviously, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the death of a dream can make a day terrible. However, there are other times where bad days just kind of happen. We can call it “waking up on the wrong side of the bed” or anything else, but the fact remains that sometimes we just wake up in a bad mood. Maybe your day started out uneventful, but heavy traffic, long lines, and other annoyances get things off on the wrong foot. Seemingly minor inconveniences can leave us feeling like we’re having a bad day.
While we know that God is working all things together for our good, and while we know that He loves us unconditionally, we also have to figure out how to handle the bad days. Today, find out the answer to that question and more.
You’re Going to Get Through It
Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
One of the universal truths about bad days is that they last 24 hours just like the good days. Isn’t it remarkable how the 24 hours in a good day fly by while the 24 hours in a bad day seem to drag? It’s just a natural human reaction to adversity. Make no mistake about it, bad days are just as short as the good ones.
Paul was a man who knew about bad days. He had been beaten, arrested, abandoned, shipwrecked, and snake bitten. According to this passage, he had also known what it meant to be broke, hungry, and living in poverty. However, Paul knew that he could get through anything because of the God who lived inside Him.
Take heart! Even on the bad days, the same God who lived inside Paul lives inside you. Whether the bad days are the result of something that will change your life forever, or you’re simply angry that you overslept, had a bad hair day, and spent hours stuck in traffic, you’re going to get through it. You can do everything because of the God who gives you strength.
Slow Down
Psalms 46:10-11 (NIV)
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
When you’re having a bad day, it’s easy to feel like things are coming at you faster than you can respond. A single negative thought can quickly reproduce, leaving you feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the barrage of negativity that you’re dealing with.
As humans, we often ascribe to the false gospel of self-reliance. If we could only take the steps necessary to fix whatever has gone wrong in our day, things would get better. Unfortunately, when we’re not thinking clearly, it’s harder to take the right steps.
In those moments, take a breath, and slow down. God had to remind David of this concept at least once, which sparked the writing of the 46th Psalm. When you slow down, take a deep breath, you not only experience physical relief, but it also gives you the chance to remind yourself of the goodness of God. He is with you, He is for you, and He is the fortress that you need.
Do You Remember When?
Psalm 77:11-12 (NIV)
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
The term “meditate” in this verse means to slow down so you can take the time to consider the details of something. While it’s a good idea to think about the goodness of God and how you have already seen His power in your life, it’s even more important to do so on the bad days.
One of the most powerful ways to go about this is to journal about the times where God is doing something powerful in your life. When you make notes for yourself about your victories, you have a source of encouragement when you’re facing defeat.
David vowed that he was going to meditate on all the deeds of the Lord, His miracles, and His mighty works. When you do that on the bad days, you can find something to be thankful for.
A Single Chapter Isn’t the Whole Story
Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
The God who created you in your mother’s womb had every detail of your life’s story written out before you were born. Isn’t it amazing to realize that we serve a God who is not limited by time or space? Before you ever took your first breath, God knew about every good day you would have, and He was fully aware of every bad day that you would have. Before you took your first steps, He ordained the order of your life. Of course, He gives us free will, and that free will gives us the power to change that order.
When we have bad days, we often assume that they are going to dictate the course of our futures. Sure, a traffic jam may not have that type of far-reaching impact that losing your job has, but it’s important to note that even our worst days are just a chapter in our stories. They are not the entire plot.
When facing the bad days, it’s important to maintain the right perspective. A single bad day, a bad week, or even a bad month isn’t the end of your story. Instead, it’s just another chapter. God has already written the book, and all we have to do is trust the Author.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that You see my mountaintops and my valleys. While I enjoy the mountains, they often feel fleeting, but the valleys seem to last forever. Help me to remember Your goodness in the bad days. Help me to slow down and trust You even more deeply when things are hard. In Christ’s name, Amen.