By Erin Elizabeth Austin
Have you ever woken up knowing it was going to be a bad day? I think, if we’re honest, we’ve all had days like this. Maybe that’s why I’ve always loved the children’s story by Judith Viorst entitled Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Not only do I find it amusing, but there’s a lot of truth to it. In case you haven’t read it, the book starts with Alexander waking up saying he knows it’s going to be a bad day because he went to bed with gum in his hair and woke up with gum in his hair, and it was a sign of how the rest of his day would go. Towards the end of the story Alexander realizes that even though bad things are happening he can choose to have fun and make the most of his day. What a powerful truth so many of us adults need to learn!
I’m not going to lie. I didn’t always understand this. For the longest time after I was diagnosed with lupus, I struggled with my attitude. I was often guilty of saying, “If it’s going to happen, then it’s going to happen to me.” Although I didn’t realize it at the time, that attitude set the tone for how each day would go. I expected difficulties, so all I saw were difficulties.
It’s easy to do this when you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness. Let’s be honest. Being sick or the caregiver of someone who’s sick is hard. There’s nothing easy about it. Sickness steals your time, health, money, and sometimes, even those you thought were friends. When that happens, it’s easy to become so wrapped up in what’s happening you miss seeing all the good in your life. Life becomes a series of no good, very bad days.
Yet as I’ve studied God’s Word, I’ve realized we choose whether or not we have a bad day. In Psalm 27:1, we are introduced to another of God’s names. It’s here He’s called Jehovah-‘Ori, which means “The Lord is my Light.” I love the verse because it’s says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”
We all go through difficult times, times when it feels like our world is caving in and we’ve been left locked in a dark room trying to dig our way out. That’s why it’s so important to believe God is our light. He can give hope and joy on even the darkest of days. I can’t help but think as we approach Easter that God did this on the day Jesus died. Before Jesus’ death, He told His disciples He would come again (John 14:2-4). Even when all hope seemed lost, God was working.
Have you ever woken up knowing it was going to be a bad day? I think, if we’re honest, we’ve all had days like this. Maybe that’s why I’ve always loved the children’s story by Judith Viorst entitled Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Not only do I find it amusing, but there’s a lot of truth to it. In case you haven’t read it, the book starts with Alexander waking up saying he knows it’s going to be a bad day because he went to bed with gum in his hair and woke up with gum in his hair, and it was a sign of how the rest of his day would go. Towards the end of the story Alexander realizes that even though bad things are happening he can choose to have fun and make the most of his day. What a powerful truth so many of us adults need to learn!
I’m not going to lie. I didn’t always understand this. For the longest time after I was diagnosed with lupus, I struggled with my attitude. I was often guilty of saying, “If it’s going to happen, then it’s going to happen to me.” Although I didn’t realize it at the time, that attitude set the tone for how each day would go. I expected difficulties, so all I saw were difficulties.
It’s easy to do this when you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness. Let’s be honest. Being sick or the caregiver of someone who’s sick is hard. There’s nothing easy about it. Sickness steals your time, health, money, and sometimes, even those you thought were friends. When that happens, it’s easy to become so wrapped up in what’s happening you miss seeing all the good in your life. Life becomes a series of no good, very bad days.
Yet as I’ve studied God’s Word, I’ve realized we choose whether or not we have a bad day. In Psalm 27:1, we are introduced to another of God’s names. It’s here He’s called Jehovah-‘Ori, which means “The Lord is my Light.” I love the verse because it’s says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”
We all go through difficult times, times when it feels like our world is caving in and we’ve been left locked in a dark room trying to dig our way out. That’s why it’s so important to believe God is our light. He can give hope and joy on even the darkest of days. I can’t help but think as we approach Easter that God did this on the day Jesus died. Before Jesus’ death, He told His disciples He would come again (John 14:2-4). Even when all hope seemed lost, God was working.
Therein lies one of the great privileges of having a relationship with Christ. Bad things may happen to us, but God gifts us with hope in hopeless situations. Because of Him, even on the worst of days, there is always a possibility for joy. When our focus is on God, who brings light to every situation, we can honestly say our day hasn’t been bad because God is there.
It's taken me years to understand this, but this is a truth that’s transformed my life. There is a difference in a day being bad and a day being hard. When we say a day is bad, we’re saying absolutely nothing good was a part of the day. We’re, in essence, saying it doesn’t matter that we’re alive, have people who love us, have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. We’re saying everything is horrible and there’s no good to be found. Yet when we say the day is hard, we’re acknowledging difficult things have happened, but we refuse to negate the blessings we have been given. Do you see the difference?
Every day is good when we keep our eyes focused on God because He brings light to the darkest of situations. No problem can outshine the power of God. He is greater!
Do you find yourself going through some dark times? Have you asked God to shine His light into your situation? Jehovah-‘Ori wants to shine His light on your life. Choose to stop having no good, very bad days. Take your eyes off your problems and focus on the One who is greater.
“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” ~ John 8:12
© April 6, 2017
It's taken me years to understand this, but this is a truth that’s transformed my life. There is a difference in a day being bad and a day being hard. When we say a day is bad, we’re saying absolutely nothing good was a part of the day. We’re, in essence, saying it doesn’t matter that we’re alive, have people who love us, have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. We’re saying everything is horrible and there’s no good to be found. Yet when we say the day is hard, we’re acknowledging difficult things have happened, but we refuse to negate the blessings we have been given. Do you see the difference?
Every day is good when we keep our eyes focused on God because He brings light to the darkest of situations. No problem can outshine the power of God. He is greater!
Do you find yourself going through some dark times? Have you asked God to shine His light into your situation? Jehovah-‘Ori wants to shine His light on your life. Choose to stop having no good, very bad days. Take your eyes off your problems and focus on the One who is greater.
“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” ~ John 8:12
© April 6, 2017
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