As a Christian, how do pick yourself up after a bad day?
I’ll never forget one of my high school’s regular substitute teachers. Bob happened to be the pastor of a local church, but he graced the halls of Brookwood High every day—coffee thermos in hand, smile in place. What made Bob so memorable, however, was the greeting that rolled off his tongue for every teen or teacher he passed:
“Great day, isn’t it?”
And everything about the way he said it made me believe he truly meant it.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations.
In This Article
Never a Bad Day
I started to wonder if Bob ever had bad days. Had he ever experienced waking up on the wrong side of the bed, forgetting his homework at home, or having an atomic fight with his best friend? Did he ever lose games, fail an audition, or walk out of the bathroom with his skirt tucked into his underwear? Had he ever gotten a call that his grandma suffered a stroke, or ever had to call his parents to tell them that he’d totaled their car?
Now, years later, with the wisdom that sometimes comes with age, I realize that, yes, Bob had days like the above. (Well, except perhaps the skirt thing.) But he knew four simple truths that, for the Christian, make every day a great day.
Make Every Day a Great Day: 4 Bible Truths For Bad Days
1) I’ve taken Christ as my savior.
You know that awful feeling of being trapped and realizing no one is coming to rescue you? Perhaps you’ve lost your way hiking the mountains and no one knows you’re out there. Or you’re being attacked for your beliefs and no one seems to care.
Paul had that experience, and he wrote about it in 2 Timothy:
“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”
2 Timothy 4:16-17, abbreviated
If Christ is your savior, you can know that no matter what, you will never be alone.
Great day, isn’t it?
2) All my sins are forgiven.
Several years ago, Wisconsin was hit by a heavy snowstorm. Heavy snow is not unusual for these parts, but this time the amount that fell coupled with the amount that had fallen in previous days was too much and the roofs of multiple buildings collapsed under the weight.
Which is humbling, because a single snowflake weighs almost nothing.
Guilt is like snow. The weight of it, as it accumulates, can put stress on a soul until it comes crashing in.
Guilt is like snow. The weight of it, as it accumulates, can put stress on a soul until it comes crashing in. All the times when you said the wrong thing, did that wrong thing, or didn’t measure up to expectations can put a lot of crushing weight on your soul. Like Psalm 38 says, your guilt has overwhelmed you like a burden too heavy to bear.
Then Christ stepped in, took the weight of sin from your shoulders, and placed it on his own.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Not one flake of sin remains. Great day, isn’t it?
3) I’m going to live with God forever.
If you could go anywhere in the world for a weeklong vacation, where would it be? I’ve always envisioned someplace tropical, perhaps one of those over-the-water bungalows where the water is clear, the sand is white, and the sun always shines.
What if you got to the end of your week and found out you could stay longer, not just at that beautiful locale, but in that carefree lifestyle with no deadlines, no stresses, and no struggle to perform?
Yes, please!
You’ve actually received something better.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:7
Through Christ, you have a one-way ticket to paradise, complete with a seat before the throne of God—and you get to stay forever!
Great day, isn’t it?
Related: Look Forward to Eternity: The Best is Yet to Come
4) I have no fear of death anymore.
If the Covid-19 pandemic opened our eyes to anything, it’s to our own mortality. Some who never feared death were suddenly forced to think about the possibility of it coming sooner rather than later. Were you one of those people?
With Jesus at your side, you don’t need to be afraid of death no matter when or how it comes.
Death has been swallowed up in victory.
1 Corinthians 15:54
You have eternal life in paradise. Remember?
Great day, isn’t it?
More Bible Verses for Bad Days
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17, abbreviated
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
You turned my wailing into dancing;
Psalm 30:11-12
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
Psalm 28:7
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled: More Encouragement for Christian Teens
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
Don’t let the troubles of this world bring you down. As a Christian, even a bad day is a great day.
For more on rising above worldly trouble:
Amazing Lauren. Thank you❤️❤️❤️
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Another good one, Lauren. I am blessed to read this one early in my day so thanks for the great start.
God bless your ministering heart and God bless your day. It’s a great one!
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