The Worst Day I Ever Had Was Still Really Good

How was your day? We have asked and answered that question a lot through the years. Young ones might smile a goofy grin and run away like it’s a game when you ask them. Teenagers will exhaust their vocabulary of one word answers using words such as “good” and “fine.” Your wife might tell you more than you want to know and your husband might not tell you as much as you want to hear or even the other way around. We might ask the question tentatively to those who are much older. As health and abilities decline there seem to be more and more bad days; fewer and fewer good ones.

You are probably aware that people complain too much. No doubt many have admonished you to be more positive and focus on the good things and not the bad. There are a lot of people worse off than you, you still have an abundance of blessings and if you’re a New Testament Christian you must count it all joy (James 1:2-4; Philippians 4:4). That does not change the fact that bad things happen and they still really hurt. Looking back on some of my bad days I remember that I was not strong enough to follow the example of Jesus and focus on the joy set before me (Hebrews 12:2). However, these bad days have not continued to hinder me. I believe it’s because these bad days were not that bad at all in light of the security and comfort that comes from being God’s child among the church of Christ.

The Day Somebody Special Died. This type of day can be especially hard. Part of that pain never really goes away. However I might also remember the way I was comforted by a loved one reaching out or how my church family provided for some of my needs. “…do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

The Day I Got Really Sick. Personally I have enjoyed relatively good health so far. The same is certainly not true for everyone. When a family member was critically ill I can remember how my family came together and grew closer. When I suffer illness there always seems to be encouragement from my brethren. “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

The Day I Felt Overwhelmed. Sometimes I get overwhelmed because there are a lot of smaller challenges to overcome all at once. Other times it’s one big issue to confront that causes me to lose my peace. Even when I go through a difficult time, there is still contentment to be found in a life full of blessings from God. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

The Day I Suffered Persecution. I am so grateful we do not face persecution in America the way the early Christians did in Rome. But there is still persecution I face. I might not be treated right at work because of my convictions to live a holy life (I Peter 2:9). Or I might even be persecuted by my own brethren for standing up for sound teaching when false doctrines seem to rule the day. Persecution is of benefit to the cause gospel therefore I will rejoice.

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel…” (Philippians 1:12).

The Day I Was Caught in Sin. I was so ashamed when my sins found me out (Numbers 32:23). When I realized I was lost in sin I made the blessed decision to obey the soul saving gospel of Jesus Christ by putting on the Lord in baptism (Acts 2:38; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; II Timothy 1:9). Though the word cut my heart and divided my “soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” because of my sin it was a good day that lead me to repentance (Acts 2:37; Hebrews 4:12; II Corinthians 7:9).