Rough days

You ever have a rough day?

Of course you have.  We all have.

Sometimes it can begin with the first person that you meet - I am told that they can "make" or "break" your day - or at least set the tone.  And then there is a downward spiral from there.

We say things like:

Going from bad to worse.
Jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
Between a rock and a hard place.

Someone once said, "cheer up, things could get worse."  So I cheered up - and sure enough, things got worse!

"My mother told me there would be days like these, but she never said they would run in packs."

We've heard all of the sayings and cliches.

I've had people say to me, "well, just work harder, get busier." 

But most of the time that doesn't help much.

When the barn is on fire, slapping a coat of paint on the other side doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

If the tires are flat, driving faster is pretty dumb.

So what is the answer?

Galatians 6:9-18 gives us some clues.

Paul tells us in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

In other words, don't quit.  Keep on going.  Stand firm.  Be strong.  At the right time, you and I will proper and succeed.

He goes on to write in verse 10, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." 

When we are having a bad day, our tendency is to do anything BUT reach out to others and do good.

We feel like doing evil, don't we?

Fume.  Swear.  Scream.  Fight.  Pout.  Get irritated.  Take out all kinds of deposits in our relational banks.  But those are the very days that we need to reach out, which ironically enough, will help turn our day around.

Paul continues in verse 17, "...let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus."  Great stuff.  In other words, don't allow anyone or anything to keep you in bondage.  Don't let other people's bondage become your bondage.  Don't react to their actions.

Finally, Paul writes in verse 18, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers."  He is saying there, "allow the full impact of grace to flow through your thoughts, your attitudes, your responses, your words."

Just some thoughts for a Wednesday.