The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year!

Ever have one of those days when no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get it together? It’s like the children’s book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, except the grown-up version.

It often begins when our morning routine is thrown off . . . usually because we sleep in – either by design or because our alarm failed to go off. By the time we get up, so is our spouse and/or children, and we’re forced to maneuver around them to get ready. Trying to rush is fruitless. Most likely our clothes are wrinkled because they are the only clean ones we could find shoved in the back in our closet for who knows how long; they may or may not match; it won’t matter because we’ll drip toothpaste on the front; today WILL be a bad hair day; someone will be in the bathroom for a long time; probably our own self because our body is stressed and says, “Hey! You know what would make us really late?”; since we didn’t make our lunch last night, we grab whatever we can find that doesn’t require prep (Pop tarts and yogurt for lunch is OK, right?). Perhaps we have time or make time to grab a mug of coffee and pop a piece of toast into our mouth before grabbing our coat and bag to head out the door. Oh! Don’t forget. The car windows will be frosted over, a tire will be low, and the gas tank will be dangerously close to empty. We leave the house feeling rumpled and grumpy, praying we can just please make it to work safely and without being any later than we are right now.

On those days, my brain feels scrambled and I can’t seem to organize my thoughts, resulting in scattered prayers that resemble rabbits hopping in all directions! I can’t stay focused. I drop things all day and therefore spend a lot of time cleaning up messes or putting the stupid car remote back together. At some point, I will probably misplace my keys or lock them in the car. I’m very likely to lose my debit card or better yet, my purse. I will inevitably hit a curb, spill my coffee, etc.

I’m SOOO thankful when those days are over. When I can call it done and over with, put on my pj’s, and veg out (do people still say that?). I scrunch up my pillow and snuggle down, ready to relax, let it all go, and look forward to a better tomorrow.

It reminds me of the year we’ve had. As I reread the blog post from last January, I remember the optimism we all had about going into the year 2020. It started off sounding like so much fun! Little did we know.

It didn’t take long for things to start going downhill. Almost immediately, the coronavirus emerged and began to spread around the world. We scrambled to try and figure out what to do, living one fearful day to the next. There was suddenly a shortage on supplies and school was pretty much cancelled. Hospitals became over-run and healthcare workers pushed to exhaustion. Everyone became germaphobes and hermits, but the virus continued to spread.

In the meantime, major wildfires broke out; along with a number of riots and protests; we lost several influential people throughout the year; and we sadly watched our political system play out like a daily soap opera.

It has been like a start to a bad day that just continued to get worse. I think we can all agree we will be SOOO thankful when this year is over! When we can call it done, put on our pj’s, snuggle down, let it all go, and look forward to a better year.

Isn’t it great that we get a fresh start? God blesses us with both a new day and a new year, offering us the opportunity try again. We can use it to recuperate, make better choices, reconnect with someone, or move on. We can also make a change in our life or face a challenge. It’s up to us how we use it.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it

Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

It is truly wonderful to know that as bad as today is, as difficult as this year has been, that God will bless us with a new one. We can face its challenges with confidence because we are protected by His mercy; the world will not consume us. His compassion for us remains abundant; His faithfulness remains sure; and neither can be depleted. He never wavers on his promises; never forgets; and never lets anything keep him from following through on them. If God says He will do it, it’s as if it has already been done. We can rejoice and be glad knowing that He is constant and unchanging.

2 Corinthians 4: 8-18 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It’s a bit of a lengthy passage but one that offers such great encouragement. We can all agree that our world is full of turmoil. We can certainly see trouble everywhere we look. It has been year of high anxiety, fear, stress, and depression. But we can be comforted knowing that Christ is with us through every single second. We can have an inner strength and courage that supersedes anything the world offers because we can see beyond the temporal things of the world. We can possess those eternal things promised to us and look forward to an everlasting life in a perfect world free from sin with the one who has loved us so greatly.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

If you’ve ever played a sport, you know how much it means to have the crowd cheer for you. It pumps you up! It gives you a boost of confidence! You want to give the next play everything you’ve got! You are encouraged!

I am reminded of the Special Olympic track and field games. The athletes are of all ability levels - some greater, some lesser – but it doesn’t matter because they will give it their all. They have people at the starting line telling them they can do it; a coach or sponsor who stays beside them encouraging them every single step of the race; family members, other athletes, teachers, and coaches lined up and cheering them the whole length of the race; and someone waiting for them at the finish line urging them to come on and reminding them they can make it!

We, too, have a cheering section in Heaven. Hebrews 12:1 tells us that we are surrounded by a cloud (great number) of witnesses (martyrs who have passed on before us) that are cheering us on from the starting line every step of the way to the finish line. We can be strong, courageous, and confident in running this race called Life knowing that those who went before us are now cheering for us.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in my ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Psalm 37:7-9 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

These words were penned nearly two thousand years ago and yet they are just as applicable today as they were then. Although the world is extremely turbulent, God is in complete control. He sees the evil and knows the evil doers by name. He has already overcome them all. We can rest in Him and look forward to a brighter and much better future promised to us.

So, everyone eat those black-eyed peas but put your trust in God and let’s all pray that 2021 proves to be a much better year!

*God Bless!