On Our Bad Days
“On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” – Zephaniah 3:16-18
We have a little tradition to go to a particular restaurant for some Sunday holidays. Mornings are a little busy with church so it’s a little treat to not have to mess with cooking, dishes etc. So I put in a call for take out last night and they said “it’s a little busy so it will be 45 minutes to an hour.” I thought, that’s a while, but better than cooking and dishes.
When I arrived, it was WAY MORE than a little busy. It was like an angry mob had gathered outside the restaurant. I understood why people were upset. They had put in an order to to pick up at 5:00 and it was nearly 7:00. It was Mother’s Day and their dinner plan was ruined. Like probably 100 dinner plans ruined in just the hour I was there.
But what I couldn’t get past was the workers. They were doing the best they could, but it was OVERWHELMING. People were mad. People were forceful. People were literally pushing the door in on them. They were having a bad day.
It reminded me of a paragraph my friend Larry sent me from a book called “On My Worst Day” by John Lynch. We all have bad days – and not just because of what others do and say to us, but because of what we do and say to ourselves. We need to be reminded, that not matter what we go through, think, or hear, In Christ, this is true:
“On my worst day I am adored, enjoyed, clean, righteous, absolutely forgiven, new, acceptable, complete, chosen, able, intimately loved, smiled upon, planned for, protected, continually though about, enjoyed, cared for, comforted, understood, known completely, given all mercy, compassion, guarded, matured, bragged on, defended, valued, esteemed, held, hugged, and caressed, kissed, heard, honored, in unity with, favored, enough, on time, lacking nothing, directed, guided continually, never failed, waited for, anticipated, part of, belonging, never alone, praised, secure, safe, believed, appreciated, given all grace, all patience, at peace with, pure, shining, precious, cried over, grieved with, strengthened, emboldened, drawn kindly to repentance, relaxed with, never on trial, never frowned at, never hit with a two-by-four, at rest in, receiving complete access, given gifts, given dreams, given new dreams, continually healed, nurtured, carried, never mocked, never punished, most of my humor enjoyed, not behind, not outside, given endless affection.
It doesn’t always feel like it in the moment. This is the depth of His love, whether you or I feel we deserve it or not. “Deserve” has long ago left the building.”
Be reminded today, that everyday, even on your “bad days”, your “worst days”, all the above is true.