Why There Is No Such Thing as Bad Days, Only Bad gods

From severe sickness, unexpected death, unfaithful spouses, abrupt job loss, inadequate finances, abusive homes, rebellious children, unrealistic school expectations, car problems, heated disputes to congested traffic, out-of-stock products, slow internet, broken iPhones, annoying coworkers, tedious homework…And the list can go on and on.

There are countless external variables that might cause us to have a bad day, but what is the real reason for our bad days? Is the problem truly with our circumstances, or is the problem with the way we respond to our circumstances? Did Jesus died to save us from hell as well as bad days? Take a look at John chapter 10:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” – John 10:10-11

What does Jesus mean when He says that He came to give us life and life abundantly? Is He talking about eternal life on this earth or when we die and go to heaven? He’s talking about both. Eternal life starts the moment we trust in Christ: “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Jesus has come to rescue us from the enslaved lives we are currently living and give us a new, free life that starts now (John 8:32, Romans 6:6). In this passage in John 17, Jesus states that this comes through knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ. But in our sin we can’t know and be in fellowship with someone who is Light and has no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). Therefore Jesus, the mediator between God and man, came so that we can know God (1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:6). Christ provides the righteousness we need so we can be in God’s presence (2 Corinthians 5:21). So now, whoever believes in Jesus’ work on the cross is buried with Him and raised into newness of life (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:4, John 3:16).

Because through Christ we are children of God, we have no reason for a bad day. For a Christian it’s all about perspective. Here are a five reasons:

1. God isn’t against us: “There is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). God isn’t angry with us. He’s not trying to get us back for some sin we committed. Therefore our circumstances aren’t given to us by an angry God.
2. Everything ultimately works for our good: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) This means that every pain, every trial, and every hardship we experience is a light momentary affliction that doesn’t even compare to the eternal weight of glory we will receive (2 Corinthians 4:17). Notice that this passage says “we know all things work together for good.” It doesn’t say “we see all things work together for good.”
3. God provides for our every need: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) He doesn’t hold back on anything good (Psalms 34:10, 84:11). Consider Jesus as a down payment to every other thing He’s promised to give us. He’s provided all things pertaining to life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He even takes care of our seemingly insignificant needs (Matthew 6:25-34).
4. Nothing can separate us from the love of God: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35) His loves pursues us relentlessly and dies for us when we were spiritually dead (Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:1). His loves pursues us when there is nothing good or attractive about us, but our sin. His unfailing love satisfies us in the morning (Psalms 90:14). It is sufficient.
5. We are more than conquerors in Christ: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Even in our times of spiritual defeat, Christ has already made us victorious. He paid it all. Though we let Him down so often, we were never holding Him up in the first place. 

God, from eternity past has sovereignly ordained every single one of our days before there was yet one of them (Psalms 139:16). Today is the perfect day, because God has made it thus. Our reaction to the circumstances of a day that the Lord has made (which is everyday) shows who our god really is. The way you respond to getting stuck in traffic on the way home from a ridiculous day at work reveals who your god is. Where you run when you find out this month’s bills won’t be paid for reveals who your god is. Do you trust Him? It’s a lot easier to trust Him for salvation than it is when it comes to day to day circumstances. He calls us to trust Him with both (Proverbs 3:5-6). He never once has let His children down (Psalms 37:25). He has a perfect track record of being faithful, and He’s not about to break it on you. Who you worship determines your attitude towards daily hardships. The Lord has given us every good reason to rejoice in trials (James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5). It’s when we fail to trust Him do we end up having a bad day. When we fail to keep our eyes on the prize. There is no such thing as bad days, only bad gods. Your heart wants to seek, kill, and destroy you, but Jesus came to give you life, and life more abundantly. Who will you believe? Your reactions will ultimately show you the answer to that question.

Jesus knew what it was like to have a bad day, yet He endured the cross “for the joy that was set before Him.” (Hebrews 12:2) He understands and can empathize with you. Hebrews 4:15 says that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Go before the throne of grace to “receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” (verse 16) My prayer for you is that hard times will lead you to cast all your cares on Jesus, “for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

As I am writing this, I am aware that there are people reading this post who are experiencing severe hurt in their lives right now. I strongly urge you to go to the body of believers in the local church and allow them to minister to you and encourage you. Don’t try to carry the weight of it all on your own.

Grace and Peace.

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