TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:7 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• If children’s book author Judith Viorst had been a fly on the wall of my day yesterday, her book wouldn’t have been called, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” It would have been, “Denise and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” Seriously—yesterday was rotten from start to finish. The day included technical issues during a Zoom meeting… I forgot something that I needed for an in-person meeting and had to drive back home to get it… I accidentally sideswiped someone’s car… I broke my Kate Spade umbrella just in time for a torrential downpour… A tree limb caused a power outage in my neighborhood just as I was headed out again… and I couldn’t go home from my last appointment because the power company wasn’t letting anyone in or out of the neighborhood. Since my son, who has been sick with strep this week, also got tested for COVID but still hasn’t gotten those results back, I couldn’t go see him or my mom (he lives with her). I ended up going out to eat for supper, and thankfully, the power came on earlier than planned, and I was finally able to get home.
I immediately put on my pajamas. I was D.O.N.E.
Before I found sanctuary in my pajamas though, as I was driving home, there were storm clouds still lingering in the sky. I prayed and told God how much I want to trust Him with my bad days… that there is a reason and a purpose for everything He allows… And I prayed that He would help me believe that even when I was tired, discouraged, and frankly—feeling sorry for myself… Before I continue, to be clear, let me acknowledge that I know my bad day would be a picnic compared to the problems some people face. I certainly don’t want to be insensitive to that. But it felt like a train wreck of a day, and I was so over it when I was praying.
I asked God to help me feel His presence, and while I’d love to tell you that a holy peace washed over me, it didn’t. But before I could get even more discouraged, I told myself no… don’t go there. I had to get out of my emotions and remember that God didn’t leave me alone to deal with my miserable day. He’s there, even when I can’t feel Him. I needed to acknowledge the omnipresence of God.
In Psalm 139, David penned these words, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me” (verses 7-10).
No matter how frustrating the day or how bad the news, God is with us. He is ever-present, and we have His promise that He will never leave us, no matter how alone we may feel (Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, and Matthew 28:20).
While I didn’t have the overwhelming sense I was hoping for, God was there with me through every moment. From the start of my “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” to the end of it when I finally got to hide under the covers and go to sleep. And that’s enough.
While I sincerely hope and pray today is much better, I know that whatever today brings, God is with me.
Today, as you pray, thank God that He keeps His promises. Thank Him that He always knows what is going to happen and that He is always with us. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember this, no matter what the day brings.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
