Make Any Bad Day a Better Day

“I’m just having a bad day!”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people mutter those words (or muttered them myself). 

Maybe the faucet is dripping in the kitchen, your boss is in a bad mood or the car is making that noise again. Any one of those challenges can test our temperament, pollute our perspective, or hijack our joy.   

“Tomorrow will be better,” we say, subconsciously waving the white flag of surrender on today.

If you’ve ever given up today, waiting for tomorrow, I have some good news for you.            

I don’t believe for one moment that you have to go through life held hostage by your circumstances. If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have the Spirit of God within you. And that means His peace, joy, strength, and patience are all yours in Christ.

1 John 4:4 says, …He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. So it’s not about what happens around you…it’s about what is happening in you—that’s why you don’t have to just settle for a bad day!  

Here are a few tips to show you how:   

1. Refuse to Settle

Let’s do a fun exercise together; I call it “The What If Story...”

What if you grew up in the middle of the United States…somewhere like Wichita, Kansas, and your dream was to live by the ocean—to breathe in the salty air, let sand sink between your toes, feast on fresh seafood and incredible scenic views. So you decided: I’m going for it! I’m going to follow my dream!

 You make the necessary arrangements and start on your way to the ocean. But as you’re driving, you begin to dread moving such a long distance from home. And as you pass by the Mississippi River, you think: It’s may not the ocean, but it’s nice. I’ll just settle here.

Here’s the life-lesson I want you to understand: Mediocrity is the midway point between two destinations. And anytime you set out for the ocean but settle for a river, you’re missing out.

Psalm 37:23 says, The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. God has something so much better for you! And you’ll discover it when you follow His lead, instead of settling for something else.

2. Say No to Worry

If you came home today to find your house had been infested with insects—I’m talking about large, disgusting, germ-carrying bugs—what would you do? Would you co-exist with the gross insects? Or would you take steps to eradicate them?

I can tell you right now…I would take immediate and aggressive action. 

You know, it’s interesting: We will go to great lengths to rid our homes of harmful, disgusting pests and yet we will allow our lives to be full of harmful, disgusting patterns. Why is that?

I want you to get this picture in your mind: dread, fear, anxiety, stress and worry—these are the emotional insects that are scurrying around the corners of our souls. Like bugs, these feelings of worry are unhealthy, unsightly and they prefer the darkness.  

Rather than co-existing with worry and anxiety, or just hoping they will go away, we should take immediate and aggressive action. We should say emphatically, “There is no way I’m going to allow my life to be overrun by worry!” 

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Take this approach with things like worry and anxiety and you’ll experience an immediate improvement in your day.

3. Decide to Help Others

When we are not having a great day ourselves, we rarely feel like helping someone else. Our tendency is to focus on ourselves, and that is actually the worst thing we can do because it increases our misery instead of eliminating it.

Here’s an example I think you’ll understand:

Think about the best part of Christmas morning or a birthday celebration. It’s not when you get to open your presents (as nice as that may be).

The best part is when you watch with anticipation as the people in your life open the gifts you’ve given them. …There’s just something wonderful about seeing the joy your gift brings to their faces. 

Well, you can experience that feeling of joy and satisfaction more than one or two times a year. You can experience it every day! When you decide to help others, you’re not only going to improve their lives, you’re going to improve your own.

In John 13:34 Jesus says, ...Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Think about the many ways Jesus has loved you and how He continues to love you. Then reach out to show His love to someone around you.

You’ll find that getting your mind off yourself and helping others makes you the happiest you will ever be!

Adapted from Joyce’s resource 20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER.