What do you do when you’re having a bad day? It can be so easy to try and deal with it or cover it up with something else, but are there better things you can do? Is God trying to accomplish something in your bad days?
These are 4 things I do when I’m having a bad day.
1. Pray, meditate on scripture, and remember the gospel.
Okay, maybe that was three in one, but they are without a doubt the most important things to do on any day and especially on a bad day. Jesus as our perfect example found comfort in his Heavenly Father. Many times he would go to a quiet place and pray. Sometimes in the midst of all the noise the best thing to do is to pray in a quiet place.
When you find yourself in times of prayer, don’t just whine to God. Bring him your requests, then listen. Reading God’s word, meditating on it, and then praying it back to him is extremely effective. Donald Whitney writes:
After the input of a passage of Scripture, meditation allows us to take what God has said and think deeply on it, digest it, and then speak to God about it in meaningful prayer. As a result, we pray about what we’ve encountered in the Bible, now personalized through meditation. [1]
God’s word will encourage you like nothing else.
At the end of all of it, remind yourself of the gospel. Jesus himself endured the worst day in history so that you could have an eternity of good days. Keep your eyes fixed on the Savior and let his work on your behalf lead you to worship in the midst of a bad day.
2. Don’t Avoid it.
It is easy to try and find something to numb the pain, especially in our quick-fix culture. Temptations in this regard can be a real struggle. But numbing pain can at times negate spiritual growth.
The Apostle Peter writes
[N]ow for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV)
Suffering and trials have a purpose in your life. God is using them to refine you just like a goldsmith using fire refines gold. Draw close to God and ask him to do the work that he is seeking to do. He is our loving father and is using trials and tribulations to produce more Christlikeness in us.
3. Draw close to your church family.
On a rough day find members of your church family to spend time with. Don’t allow the enemy to single you out and isolate you; draw close to the body of Christ. Ask them to pray for you, encourage you in the word, and remind you of the gospel.
4. Journal about what you learned.
Throughout the years of your life, you will have many bad days. Many times your struggles are with the same issues that have plagued you over and over. Write about these struggles; write about what you learned; write about how God brought you through them and how he grew you during the process. It’s easy to forget the blessings of God and only see the bad things happening to you. Journaling about your struggles will allow you to remember how God worked in them for years to come.
[1]- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. NavPress. Revised, updated edition (July 1, 2014).
