BBD 06.01.09 Just Having a Bad Day
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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06.01.09
Just Having a Bad Day
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. -
1 Corinthians 15:58.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you in due time, casting all your care (anxiety - NIV) upon Him, for He
cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7.
At a Mobil Service Station in Boston a woman tried to run over another woman
and rammed her SUV into the service station building several times. She
narrowly missed hitting other people that were also at the station.
Apparently, some words were said between the driver and the woman that was
the target of the driver's rage. One witness stated that the driver said
that she was "having a bad day."
In Fort Smith, Arkansas a would be robber encountered a convenience store
clerk who refused to give him any of the store's money. The robber said to
the clerk, "I hate to do this," as he lifted his shirt to reveal the gun
that he had and demanded $40. After the clerk's refusal to hand over the
money the robber said that he needed the money for insulin. The clerk then
gave the robber $40 of his own money to buy the insulin. The robber thanked
the clerk and shook his hand before leaving. Of course, the police are
searching for the would be robber.
There is no doubt that there are extreme pressures on many people in these
days of job losses, investment disasters, and home foreclosures. But surely
there is a better way to handle these pressures than by blindly lashing out
at others or by turning to criminal activity.
What would it take for you to lose it and go off the deep end? How much
pressure would have to be exerted before you abandoned your faith and began
to act like a non-believer? Would only a few harsh words spoken at the wrong
time send you over the edge like it did the woman in Boston? Would your own
or your child's health needs force you to turn to criminal activity?
When we are faced with seemingly impossible situations as Christians we are
to be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." How
is this possible? Only through supernatural empowerment is it possible. It
is not possible in our own strength to survive the pressures of life without
at some point "losing it."
God has the resources that we need to cope with whatever we may encounter in
life. Instead of lashing out at others, stop and pray, and then you will
experience "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding," which
"will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Instead of turning
to crime, turn to God - "casting all your care (anxiety - NIV) upon Him." By
placing your problem, your need into the hands of God, you will allow Him to
give you wisdom, guidance, and the provision that you need. God might have
given, the would be robber the wisdom to go to any hospital emergency room
and ask for help (Matthew 7:7-8). If they were unable to help, they would
know who would be able to help him.
Just having a bad day is not a good reason for a believer to go off the deep
end because as Psalm 118:24 says, "This is the day the LORD has made; we
will rejoice and be glad in it." Every day given into the hands of God has
the potential to bring about good (Romans 8:28). Remember this: Whatever
your problem, God has what you need!
Copyright © 2009. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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