One of Those Days

Did you ever have “one of those days”? The kind of day that makes you want to just quit and go back to bed—and try again tomorrow? The kind of day that makes you envious of Alexander’s day from the children’s book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?"

That’s kind of how I feel today. Anyone want to join me in a pity party? I knew we weren’t off to a very good start when my shower was interrupted 3 times by people banging on the door to ask me questions! We did arrive on time for 7:15 piano lesson but as soon as I got to my office, I realized that I had left my lunch at home. Once home, I discovered that it was really in the back seat of the car! Then my husband discovers that the milk we had in the church refrigerator was bad. He makes a quick trip home! As soon as he returns, I hear from my daughter that she forgot a crucial item involving standardized dress that necessitated a 3rd trip home! Now it’s time to teach catechism and all that early prep time that I thought I was going to have just disappeared. After class, I finally got around to getting out my laptop for the day. No wireless connection. After staff meeting, I tried to play around with it to see if I could figure out the problem but finally gave up! And made one more trip home where I could use the internet and get some work done. Through my frustrations, I made a second travel mug of coffee and resorted to candy and potato chips! I’m sure many women out there can relate! Through everything, I kept hearing the words of Psalm 46,

10 "Be still, and know that I am God.”

My day seems to be going out of control but I have to keep reminding myself that God is in control. A bad day? Let’s put this in perspective. Compared to what? Let’s compare it to the fears of the earlier verses in Psalm 46.
Psalm 46 (English Standard Version)
God Is Our Fortress
1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Through all kinds of natural disasters and terrible troubles that can enter our lives, Christians do not need to fear. God will be our refuge—our protection in all danger and distress. I think sometimes it’s easier to see this when the big things hit our lives. When we are dealing with earthquakes or floods, cancer or heart attacks, we know we can’t handle it alone. We know we need God’s protection. Sometimes on these “bad days”, we forget that we don’t have to handle them alone either. We forget that God wants us to depend on Him during those times too. God took care of our biggest problems—sin, death and the devil—through the perfect life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. He can certainly take care of our “bad days!” Psalm 46.10 is good advice for every day.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God.”


Heavenly Father,
We praise You for being the God of all creation. We ask You to be our refuge through the storms of life. Forgive us for all the times we think we handle things on our own. Thank You for the calm assurance we receive we heed Your Words to “Be still, and know that I am God.”
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen