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A Bad Day ≠ A Bad Life

February 17, 2025 /

If you don’t take away anything else from this blog, this is a message everyone should carry with them. Sometimes, life can feel like you have hit your lowest point. You know that thought.

“Will it ever get better?”

”Is this all there is to life?”

“If this is it… do I want much more of this???”

I think so many people are having these thoughts. At least, that is how it seems when I look on social media. Sometimes, I think so many are having a crisis or making their lives out to be something sparkly that you might see on a reality TV show. I do not believe that we have to constantly be vulnerable on social media to be relatable.

It is perfectly acceptable for your life to be a mixture of good and bad. There is this saying: looking at the trees and missing the forest. It means the person is so focused on the details that they miss the whole picture. You can be so grateful to see puppies and butterflies and have things you don’t like. If you hyper-focus on the bad, you miss the good.

One way to practice is to acknowledge the good through gratitude, mindfulness, or even journaling.

If you discover that you are the problem in your life, that is probably the best news you can get. You may not be able to change other people, but you can undoubtedly change yourself. Every time you make a choice towards the person you want to be, it rewires your brain to make new connections similar to learning a new skill. Those new brain connections make it easier for you to make that same choice the next time. For example, if you start the day with a healthy breakfast, it is more likely that you will choose a healthy lunch option.

The intersection of the first choice made, the decision to change, and opportunities to put it into practice create a lifestyle.

There are some excellent self-help resources on this:

  • Sad to Savage Podcast be Shelby Sacco
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • For those interested in neuroscience, I briefly mentioned earlier:

Now, for the most important thing. If you are a believer who having thoughts like these, combat each negative thought with a positive one.

“Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ— who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. “

II Corinthians 10:1-6 https://www.bible.com/bible/114/2CO.10.1-6

Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ looks like confronting those thoughts, even if it’s coming from you.

Here is a practical example, “I think I am ugly because ______.”

It can be anything. I’ll run through a few examples.

The response to that thought, whether verbally or in your head, would be, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” (Psalms 139:14)

If your negative thoughts focus on financial wealth, you may say the following:

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

Psalms 23:1-6
https://www.bible.com/bible/114/PSA.23.1-6

As believers, it is up to us to ensure that our minds are on Kingdom matters. That is easier said than done, but definitely possible.

‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’

Romans 12:2
https://www.bible.com/bible/114/ROM.12.2

‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’

Romans 12:21
https://www.bible.com/bible/114/ROM.12.21

Please remember to take each day with the joy it brings and confront the thoughts that would keep you a prisoner to fear.

Love, Ann

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