THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Lord, who hasn’t had a bad day?  I’ve heard some well-meaning people foolishly claim you will never have another bad day after coming to Christ. This is true—if we are in Heaven. But in thie broken world, believers and non-believers alike have “those” days. If you’re breathing enough to fog a mirror, at some point, you will have a stinker of a day. No getting’ around it. Read what our friend the psalmist wrote of his bad days.

“My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my troubles.” (Psalm 25:17,18 NLT)

Those words could easily be mine. And probably yours, too. Bad days began after that ugly snake/woman/fruit incident. In this broken world, things happen that annoy us and disrupt our plans.

·       You get an inner-office memo: the company is downsizing.  

·       On the way to an interview, you dump your $6 Starbucks in your lap.

·       The babysitter has the flu, and you’ll need to make other arrangements.

Life wasn’t any easier for the psalmist thousands of years ago.

·       The horse pulling your chariot develops a Charlie horse. 

·       Inflation causes olive oil to skyrocket to 75 shekels a gallon.

·       A hidden scandal is publicly exposed.  

Perhaps self-righteous people accused the psalmist of some unrepentant sin that caused him troubles. Maybe the psalmist believed this? Maybe the accusation was true. Just in case, he added a quick addendum to verse 18:

“Feel my pain and see my troubles. [And, oh, my merciful Lord] Forgive my sins.”  (Psalm 25:18) [emphasis mine]

Lord, Good Friday wasn’t so good for you, but you stayed true to the Father’s will. Help us keep a pure, repentant heart before you so that when we have a bad day, we’re assured you are good, and your grace still is working for us. Amen, Jesus.