Message to a Future Me

"Speak over yourself, encourage yourself in the Lord." - Donald L. Lawrence

Happy Friday and as always welcome and thank you for taking the time to read this post.

Today I am leaving a little note for myself. I often find it helpful to revisit my past writings for a bit of inspiration. Hopefully, this one will serve as a beacon of light on a dark day.

Growing up, if you heard someone shout out, "God is good!" we’d instinctively shout back, "All the time!" And then, a second call would ring out saying, "And all the time!" to which we’d respond, "God is good!" This isn’t just a call and response—it’s a statement of fact. God is good. So, what does it mean to have a "bad day" when you serve a good God?

Let me share a little secret with you. Just because we serve the true and living God, who is good, doesn't mean we're exempt from the ups and downs that plague every soul under the sun. What it does mean is that we receive beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. God will grant us a peace that surpasses all natural understanding. But let’s be clear: Christians do have problems. We are not exempt.

Don’t confuse happiness with joy. Happiness is fleeting and often a condition that is based on circumstances, but joy—true joy—comes from the Lord. It’s this joy that will be your strength, turning those dark nights into brighter days.

You are allowed to have pain and experience problems. You’re allowed to have “bad days.” Your pain is real to God. He understands that you might get upset about things. But He also leaves us with guidance for those dark moments in life. Here are a few examples:

1. Don’t let your problems drive you to sin. The Bible tells us, "Be angry, and sin not." But this applies beyond just anger. Whether you're mad, sad, frustrated, or whatever else—don’t let sin be the remedy you default to in order to combat the discomfort you are experiencing.

2. Give all your problems and pain to God. Like I said before, your pain is very real to God, but He doesn’t want you to be defeated by it. He wants you to cast all your cares on Him. ALL OF THEM—even the ones you think you can handle on your own.

3. Seek Him first! Before you extend your hand in search of help from your nearest relative because you have mistaken the closeness for convenience, seek God. Pray and meditate. Show Him that you put Him first in your life. Will this erase all the bad in your life? No, it won't. But I can guarantee you this: my bad ain't your bad. My going through is not going to look the same as yours. Because I know whose I am and in whom I put my trust.

As I wrap up this post, let me remind you of this: God knows exactly how much you can bear, and He won't give you more than that. There’s a technique to lifting. You’ve probably heard the advice to lift with your legs, not your back. Well, if you find yourself struggling under the weight of a problem, it might be because you’re lifting it wrong. Stop trying to carry the weight of the world on your back. Go down in prayer and lift with your knees.