Momma said . . .

Momma said there would be days like this.

Ever heard that statement before? Those days when you feel like you have nothing. The brain just says…‘no more.’ The body doesn’t feel like going about its required daily routine. The grunts and groans that come when you are asked to do something. These ‘days’ are no respecter of persons.

Some days it just comes naturally. Other days cause individuals to fight through to the bitter end…going to find a dark closet somewhere to sit in. You try Sugar-free Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, candy, chocolate (for the ladies in the house), and whatever else at your fingertips…but none of these are enough.

On most occasions, we can’t figure out what caused us to feel this way. Whether from the smallest things such as a bad phone call, or waking up on the wrong side of the bed. 

(Closed down Metal Decorating Co. - Baltimore City)

Have we ever stopped to consider that this day, though seemingly ‘blah’, is still given to us by God to refine and guide us on our journey? Sometimes these days can be a gentle nudge (or a sledgehammer) to remind us of our need for Him. Yet, so often we simply go into survival mode. But how in this world can we ever thrive in moments where it seems that everything is going wrong?

We tend to grow selfish on these days because we usually are only thinking of ourselves. We forget that a companion, a child, a fellow employee, or even a complete stranger could be watching how we respond in the face of adversity.
The reason they watch you in these moments is because of your joyful demeanor when your life is on the mountaintop. It’s on the mountaintop experiences that we gladly tell them how God has blessed our life and what He’s doing for us.

But on these other days, when the blessing isn’t showing itself so clearly, those around you get to see what is truly on the inside of you. It’s not that we’re advocating being someone you’re not. It’s coming to the realization that “this is the day the Lord has made; we must rejoice and be glad in it.”

(Loft Condo's - Baltimore City)

The importance of this principle lies in the fact that others are watching you. They want to see if this God you rave about when things are going superbly in your life, means the same to you when life is throwing you hay-makers.

As a Christ follower we have hope…and that hope must be on display at all times for others to see. 

I Corinthians 15:19 says, “And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.”

For others who live without this ‘hope’, don’t let these days rob you of your greatest opportunity to show an over-coming life to them. God just might be providing you with your own personal discipleship tool so that someone else can see. Stop surviving and thrive!

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