What makes a good day “good” and a bad day “bad”?
For me, a “good” day used to be when I wake up feeling great, I get all my tasks done, the kids do nothing to test my patience, dinner is made and enjoyed, and then I go to bed feeling as great as when the day started. And, a “bad” day was when any of those was lacking.
Admittedly, I have it easier than most. There are people with worse “bad” days than that, I know. But suffering is subjective and I’ve had far worse days than these myself.
In any case, good or bad days, I always hated that feeling of being on a rollercoaster. Of having a good day one day and a bad day the next. I felt like an emotional wreck; a slave to my emotions. What was wrong with me??! Was I bipolar? God has graciously shown me that the problem is really in my perspective.
See, in my mind, when I imagined walking with God, I saw Him either at my side or in front, leading me on the path. And that’s great! As I climbed the mountains of life, He’s right there with me. When I came down from that mountain and entered the valley, He was still with me. And He’s leading me, strengthening me, comforting me all the way. Again, that is such a blessing – to not be doing life alone. However, He’s since showed me a different picture. Imagine it with me.
Instead of Him walking by our side or ahead of us, imagine He is walking backwards and our eyes are fixated on His and He is leading us forward by the hand. We go with Him up the mountains and down to the valleys. But in this scenario, we don’t see either! We don’t see our circumstances, our trials, or our situations. All we see is Him! It’s like there’s no up and down, only a straight path because we’re looking straight at Him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 CSB
I heard a sermon by my pastor around the same time that God revealed this to me. He preached the importance of having both “mountain moments” and “valley moments” in our walk with God. The mountain moments teach us that God overcomes. The valley moments teach us to call on God when we struggle. Both help us to see the reality that God is indeed with us always. It’s truly wonderful. Yet, as I’ve grown in the faith, I’ve been challenged to push that thought even further.
What if instead – there are no mountains and no valleys? No ups and downs? No calm before the storm?
“He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace.”
Micah 5:4-5 CSB
What if all our days are good, no matter what comes our way, because we are safely and securely anchored in Jesus?
We will not be shaken or tossed to and fro by the winds of the storms of life because God keeps us safe under His wings.
There is no question if He will come through for us or not. He has promised that He will and proven that He does.
He has never left us alone. We are not orphaned. He is with us in every moment.
We are saved forever. Whatever may come our way, we rejoice because we have eternal life.
He is our peace. He is our hope. And this peace and hope gives us joy for each day.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 CSB
