There are days that I agree with those who claim, “The two happiest days for a boat owner are when he buys his boat and when he sells it!”
It was just one of those days. I had already lost two great fish and scuffed my beautiful bass boat on some unsuspecting reinforcement rods. Now I was headed back to the marina at full speed when I remembered that my favorite tackle box was still open on the back deck. As I pulled back on the throttle, I looked over my shoulder to see the tackle box flying out of the boat. The only good news was that all my surface lures remained afloat.
Have you recently had one of those days? You know the kind. A day when it seems like it may have been better to have stayed in bed. You knew you were going to have a bad day when you stepped on a Lego barefoot on the way to the bathroom.
I’m glad that God placed a number of incidents in the Bible to remind us that “bad days” are just a part of life and living. Without the dark days we couldn’t really appreciate all the days when things just seem to go our way. Our Lord reminds us that it isn’t the circumstances but our response to them that determines the depth of our faith and character.
There are times when I complain to God like King David, “Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception…. The wicked freely strut about [and] what is vile is honored among men….” (Psalm 12:1, 2; Psalm 12:8). At other times, I simply cry out, “Lord, get me out of here!”
During our melancholy days we can relate to David’s despair and pain. There may be times when we feel alone and adrift in a sea of muck and mire. And yet we are not alone. Our Heavenly Father is there to help us ride out those tough times. It is the assurance of His Word that can bring us out of our hopeless attitude and into a joyful spirit. As the great song writer Andre Crouch encouraged us, “Through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God.”
Despite those rough days, we can rejoice like David, “Let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield…O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” (Psalm 5:11-12; Psalm7:9)
Put your hope in God. Our life here and now is not all there is, so we can respond to tough situations in the hope and assurance of spending eternity with Him.
Scripture Reading: Romans 15:5-6, Romans 15:13
Personal Application:When everything goes wrong, how do you typically react? Prepare yourself for those days by establishing a firm foundation for faith and hope in God through His Word.
Jim Grassi, D. Min. and Wendell Morton
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5