Maneuvers - No. 102
A Good
Day
What makes a good day, friend?
A relaxing pace? A promotion at work? A loving moment of connection with a spouse, child, or friend? Finishing a huge personal project? A day free of emotional or physical pain?
We all have things we use to define a good day. But what about when those things don’t happen? What about when we feel hopeless and alone, exhausted yet still unsatisfied?
We (Jennifer and Justin) have had those days, too. Over the years, we’ve learned that if we hang our hopes on what we think is a “good day,” we’ll often be disappointed. Because this world of ours can so often be unkind. And it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by its (and our own) brokenness.
Yet there’s One whose kindness doesn’t waver and who always promises to catch us, even on our worst days. And today, he’s inviting us to …
“Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV, emphasis added).
This is such a powerful passage. Because when we follow its wisdom, God makes us stronger, more beautiful, and more capable of withstanding the evil that this world throws our way.
So let’s pause here, release our expectations of what today should hold, and listen.
01.
The Message
“It is time to grow up now—it is always time, and while not easy, it is always good. You are capable of growing—becoming even stronger and even more beautiful and solid in your abilities to withstand adversity and unkindness.
“Yes, I know this world is unkind. But I am kind to you, and because of my kindness, you can trust me. And in your trusting of me, which I will help you to do, you will experience a lightness that this world can never give. You will never meet its standards—and do you know why? It is because these standards stand on nothing solid. They are shifting sand, an unsteady foundation that will only cause you to fall. And, please, there are so many places to fall—so I invite you to fall here: fall into me. There is no other place you can trust. There is no other good place to land.
“I have made you to withstand many things. And I have made you to mature to know your true heart. You know me, deeply, truly, in your soul, and yet you forget this so easily. This forgetfulness has consequences that harm you, and I do not like to see you suffer. But I am available to give you wisdom. I am available to hold you when you need me to. I am here to be the Father who guides you and teaches you.
“So, dear one, heed my voice deep in your heart. Then your soul will get the refreshment it needs—a life of alignment and courage, trust and surrender, a life of keen discernment and hard choices. Keep going forward; keep trusting me; don’t look back; don’t mark this day as a failure and disappointment. Mark it with the light of hope that is your true inheritance. Let’s go. Come on. It’s a good day.”
02.
Listen
Close your eyes, open your hands, and breathe in deeply and slowly. As you think about this week’s message, what’s your response? Can you summarize it in one or two words?
03.
Think
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25, ESV).
1. How do you define a “good day”? What needs to happen in order for you to feel like you’ve had a good day?
2. Where has this world been unkind to you? How does it contrast with God’s kindness toward you?
3. Read the passage above again. How is God calling you to “build your house on the rock” and trust him? Where does he want to help you mature and become stronger? (Let’s try to be personal and specific as we answer this question.)
04.
Trust
Let’s return to this week’s message:
“I have made you to withstand many things. And I have made you to mature to know your true heart. You know me, deeply, truly, in your soul, and yet you forget this so easily. This forgetfulness has consequences that harm you, and I do not like to see you suffer. But I am available to give you wisdom. I am available to hold you when you need me to. I am here to be the Father who guides you and teaches you.”
Do we believe this? That God created us to withstand what this world throws at us—with this wisdom and strength? Or do we view ourselves as weak and powerless in this life?
To grow in receiving God’s wisdom and strength, it’s important that we hold on tightly to the truth.
So let’s read the following verses and write them down in our journal as personal declarations. (For example, the first verse might read: “I am God’s masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus so I can do the good things he planned for me long ago.”)
Ephesians 2:10 — “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT).
2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (NIV).
Ephesians 4:15 — “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (ESV).
Hebrews 5:14 — “Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong” (NLT).
1 Peter 5:6-7 — “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (NLT).
Let’s pause here: What new insights or truths stood out as we wrote these verses down in a personal way? What is Holy Spirit speaking to us right now?
05.
Pray
Father, there are times I feel so beaten down by this world. But you say I can fall into you and trust you and that you’ll give me wisdom and discernment.
Thank you for being exactly what I need. This life isn’t easy, but you, Jesus, are enough. Give me strength to withstand anything that comes my way. Help me see you and hear your voice moment by moment. I want to be filled with your light.
Show me how to have a good day—with you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
