Sometimes you wake up and it’s just not a good day. You feel it in your sleep, in the first few waking hours. Bedtime already sounds inviting.
After sleeping terribly, my brain fixated on strain in my relationship with a very close friend. No peaceful morning hours before work. The talkative students were especially unruly. I started questioning my balance of being their friend and being their teacher, my frustration compounded by their clear indifference. Why am I a teacher again?
While at home, before my second shift started, I went to use the restroom quickly. Then it clogged. Irritated, I grabbed the plunger. Water rose higher. I plunged. It rose more. You’ve got to be kidding me. Water spilled out onto the bathroom floor, claiming an inch of height. Barefoot, dress pants rolled to my knees, I bailed impure water into the bathtub. I know what a sinking ship feels like. I wasn’t fast enough. I dashed to my room to grab something—but wait—what was that? I hear raining. Indoors.
I rushed downstairs. It was raining in the kitchen. No, there was a torrential downpour of toilet water streaming into the kitchen. On the pots. On the papers. Into the tea pot. Into the drawers. It poured through light fixtures, through vents. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Today of all days! What do I do? Could today get any worse?
These days are hard. Days when the children make you question your sanity, a degree seems beyond your intelligence, all the wrong words spew from your lips, and relationships are strained unto suffering. In my individual way, I get it.
But Jesus is there. Jesus is there right now, as your eyes trace these words. He knew about the financial blunder. He knew the kids would act this way. He knew you would say that. And He knew there would be toilet water in my kitchen today. But was He stressed about it? Not at all! And neither should I. “Be anxious for nothing, by by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpassed all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Bible verses don’t exist to just be memorized for the weekends or cross-stitched on pillows. They are to be believed as deeply as we believe our own existence, and applied just as surely when all goes awry. Whatever the source of your bad day is, Jesus has an answer. Did you royally mess up? God forgives when you confess it (1 John 1:9) . Are you and the kids having a hard time? God can turn your hearts towards each other again (Malachi 4:6). Are you overwhelmed? You can be led to the Rock (Jesus!) even now (Psalm 61:2). Are you exhausted? Jesus invites you to rest in Him (Matthew 11:28). Do you not know what to do, how to start? The Source of wisdom promises you an unending supply (James 1:5). Did toilet water just invade your cooking space? His unreasonable peace will still guard your heart (Phil 4:6-7).
Days get better. Things smooth over. Your kind father may call in professionals to clean the kitchen. You may laugh as you tell your friends about it later. Don’t hold onto the trouble of this day to bring it into the next. Don’t even haul the trouble from one hour into the next. God still sits on His throne. Jesus still died for you and every single other human so this world of pain and disappointment and blunders is not our forever. Our forever was determined on the cross, and the exceeding glories overwhelm even the craziest of days. Jesus still loves you, reader. He always will.
hi there, fellow sapling 