Have you ever experienced a terribly bad day? Work didn't go well; someone got sick; bills still unpaid; you lost your wallet; your leave application got disapproved—there's a long list of things that could ruin your day.
I hate it when things don't go my way and I get thrown off my schedules. Admittedly when these bad days occur, one of the first entries to my calendar that are quick to disappear is my time of personal worship. I'm sure that for most people, the same would be true. We don't like reading our Bibles, praying or worshipping God when we're not in the mood to.
I remember one instance when I was challenged in this area. It was my day off. It was also one of those rare days when my wife had to go off to work and the nanny didn't show up. I was left at home with my daughter, which was great really if I didn't have a head-splitting migraine that had troubled me since the night before. I was dizzy, nauseated and agitated enough to skip through my morning devotionals.
I remember telling God, "Lord, please take away my migraine so that I can read my Bible and worship you."
My migraine never left. I felt bad and, honestly, I felt God was ignoring me—even punishing me for something I might have done wrong.
But then I got the urge to start worshipping through the migraine. My head was throbbing with pain and my daughter was getting crankier than I was. As soon as I pacified my daughter and got her to nap, I closed my bedroom door, got on my knees and started singing. Within seconds I was blown away by the presence of God although my head was still throbbing from my headache.
In Psalm 34:1, the psalmist David tells us, "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
David didn't say that he would bless God when things were going great, when we aren't sick or when we have good days. He says bless the Lord at ALL TIMES—even during bad times.
In our limited capacity and understanding, we're quick to give up praises when things don't go right, forgetting that there are many more things to be thankful for than to be grumbling about. I fall short in this area many times, but when I do, I am reminded that God deserves my praises because even when a few things aren't going right, so many other things are rectified because of Christ.
On good days, we are to praise and worship the Lord. On bad days, do it all the more. You don't have to get on your knees and start sobbing like a baby like I did. You can just utter praises, start praying, smile at God and be glad. Even on bad days, our good God continues to be gracious and loving.
