Choosing The Extraordinary LifeSample

Learn How to Handle Bad Days

When bad days come, most of us want God to show up and do big things: miraculous healings, the sudden return of a prodigal, addictions broken overnight, a mountain of financial debt magically erased. But God usually answers in less dramatic ways by giving us courage, wisdom, and grace.

To hear and heed Him, we must learn how to discern and listen to God’s voice. Here are some practical things you can do to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

Dedicate a time and place where you get alone with God. Meet with God regularly. Ten or fifteen minutes a day is a great way to start! If you are going through a particularly difficult season in your life that is the result of a major loss, a painful circumstance, or a wrong choice, you might consider setting aside a full day or half a day to meet with God.

Select a portion of the Bible to read and meditate on. Remember, God’s primary means of communication to us is through His Word. When you read Scripture, you know you are listening to the voice of God. You might consider Psalm 34, which extols the faithfulness of God, or Psalm 51, which describes the forgiveness of God. Romans 8—my favorite chapter in the Bible—reminds us of the love of God.

Choose one or two verses to memorize. Any verse or two that grabs your attention or brings comfort in your trial is fine. When bad days come your way in the future, the Lord loves to bring those verses back to your memory—to encourage you again. 

After reading, spend time in prayer. Your prayers do not have to be eloquent or lengthy. God does not weigh your words; He weighs your heart. This is a time to be honest with God.

Read from a good Christian book centered on the attributes of God such as A. W. Tozer’s The Knowledge of the Holy, J. Oswald Sanders’s The Pursuit of the Holy, and J. I. Packer’s Knowing God. Reading a chapter or two a day about the character qualities of God will remind you that you are not following a philosophy but a Person—the Creator of the universe, who cares about you and wants to help you overcome your bad days.

What spiritual practice could you adopt that you haven’t tried before in difficult seasons?