Are you having a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?"

March 17, 2014: Are you having a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?" Please share this link to a new Precious Prodigal Post: http://bit.ly/1gyU6yA

Ephesians 1:6 "…accepted in the beloved."

It’s been a tough few days for me, and I’m not even sure why. Do you ever have days or weeks like that? My circumstances haven’t changed, I’m not sick, and I at least think I’m ok spiritually. So what’s going on? I asked myself that same question last night and tried to take an objective look at my week, and this is what I saw.

After taking a hiatus from blogging while I was recovering from surgery, it was time to get back into my normal routine again. That includes blogging. As is often the case, God was dealing with me about things in my own life, so that’s what I wrote about all last week. The topic was whether the words we use are pleasing to the Lord. It isn’t comfortable to look long and hard and honestly at yourself. At least it isn’t for me. So I was already feeling a little battered. The fact that I’ve been both reading and also writing about forgiveness added to that.

A hateful email from someone who was hurt with me didn’t help my feelings or my self-esteem either. Then we spent part of the evening with family, and I walked away from there with my feelings hurt, although I really believe nobody did that on purpose. If you read my blog, you already know that I’m almost always upbeat and I can usually see the humor in any situation. Not this weekend.

My life was beginning to sound like and feel like a line from the book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It wasn’t the heartbreak of loving a prodigal that was “eating my lunch” and overwhelming me. It was the little, petty things that I was making big…the kind of things that I refer to as “pole vaulting over mouse turds.”

Even knowing that didn’t make me feel better, and I was anything but thankful as I began to post my gratitude list before I went to bed. Then a short portion of Ephesians 1:6 came to mind, “…accepted in the beloved.” Four simple words, one concept: accepted. But I was grumpy. Accepted. But I’m struggling with this forgiveness thing. Accepted. But my words are so often wrong, and my heart attitude even more often wrong. Accepted. But I’m feeling hurt and rejected. Accepted. I'm accepted. And so are you.

It doesn’t matter whether we are rejected or whether we fail at everything we attempt. And it doesn’t even matter what we think or feel about it because it doesn’t depend on us. Redemption and forgiveness and the acceptance that goes with that are through His blood and according to His riches. (Eph 1:7)

Like Alexander, you may be having the worst day ever and considering a move to Australia. I suggest that you not start packing your suitcase yet. Like Alexander's Mom, I'll remind you that everyone has bad days...even the people in Australia, and it's going to be ok.

Challenge for Today: Can you, just for today, refuse to be overwhelmed by your feelings? Can you instead meditate on the truth that you are “accepted in the beloved?”

Author's Note

March 17, 2014:
Are you having a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?"
Please share this link to a new Precious Prodigal Post:
http://bit.ly/1gyU6yA