R.E.A.P. your daily devotions with Linda Bailey

Sometimes we put across the message that unless you are happy you can't be Christian... but that is absolutely ridiculous.

Matthew 17.14-27

Reference: v.23b And the disciples were filled with grief. (NIV Bible)

Explore: U2 wrote the song 'Some days are better than others'. This is the first verse:

Some days are dry, some days are leaky
Some days come clean, other days are sneaky
Some days take less, but most days take more
Some slip through your fingers and onto the floor...

Some days are better than others

Sometimes we put across the message that unless you are happy you can't be Christian... but that is absolutely rediculous. Don't get me wrong, I'm generally a fairly happy-go-lucky kind of person. And if we really understand the grace that God has offered us and the hope we now have, it's hard not to be positive and grateful for all God has done. However, we are still human and we still experience the huge array of emotions.
Most people can recite the shortest verse in the Bible: Jesus wept, John 11.35. While this doesn't really stretch the memory it is an important verse to remember. Jesus experienced, and expressed a huge scope of emotions. And in this Matthew passage we see that the disciples also experience grief in their current situation.

Application: We have been assured that God is always with us, He does not turn off us as soon as we feel down. He doesn't ask us to deny feelings of hurt, anger, grief and doubt. He experiences those feelings (we are made in His image) and even the disciples who walked with Jesus for three years experienced the rollercoaster ride of daily emotions.
Some days are better than others, but no matter what the day is and how you are feeling, we can always look for God's presence in each day. We don't always have to be rejoicing to connect with God. God is there when we are on cloud 9 but also there for us when we are dragging our knuckles along the ground (Psalm 139.8 My interpretation!). While the dark times are never enjoyable that's often when we notice the warmth of God the most. God promises to be with us always, even on the days that are not better than others.

Prayer: Lord, may I rejoice with you when I celebrate and find comfort in you when I commiserate. Amen.