This is a post from Crystal Heft of Crystal Starr
What is God Really Doing On the Rough Days?
It’s was a rough day! One child was up in the night with a fever. Another has a pretty bad gash that may need stitches if the bleeding doesn’t stop soon. The third one was displaying such an attitude that I felt about ready to rip my hair out! The washing machine quit working. There is a huge stack of bills awaiting my attention and stressing me out. Stomachs are starting to grumble for dinner and I have nothing planned.
I said a prayer… “God if one more thing goes wrong today I think I might just collapse in a heap and cry my eyeballs out until someone rescues me!” That is when my husband texted to say he will be working later than planned. I sat down with a thump on the couch to catch my breath. “God, what are you doing here? Why are you making it all so hard?” I felt very alone.
Of course I didn’t get the loud booming answer with a clear explanation like I would have liked. No angel of mercy showed up at my door to whisk in and make everything right. As I sat, with tears ready to roll down my cheeks, nothing got better. So I did what any self-respecting mother would do, I threw myself a pity party lamenting in my head all that I try to do and berating everyone and everything that seemed to always mess me up.
Finally I got up and got on with it. Thankfully my son didn’t need stitches, the fever cleared up, dinner did get served, the bills were finally paid, my husband did come home eventually, and the washing machine was not as bad as I thought it was. Thank heavens.
But why does God allow the hard days? Can there be any purpose in them at all? Actually there is. Though I couldn’t see it while I wallowed in my mess, it became clear to me the next morning when I saw with my Bible begging God for a better day.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
As I read this verse another bubbled up in my mind, one that I memorized long ago. I flipped my Bible to…
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
And then this one some how came in front of me…
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 ESV
That booming voice I so longed to hear the afternoon before, the one with all of the answers that would set me at ease, there it was… in the pages of God’s own word.
God uses the rough days to teach us to depend on Him! He loves us so much that He can use the most difficult Mommy days of our lives to teach us how to be more like Him. If I would just allow it, that rough day could certainly hone my patience and my empathy for my children. Days like that can teach me to let God handle it, give Him control, and see what can be done.
The rough days aren’t without purpose. God can use even the most frustrating yet mundane Mommy circumstances to teach us and bring us close to Him. What Is God Really Doing On The Rough Days? He is changing us to be more like Christ.
