"There are Days"

2nd Corinthians 4.7-9 NASU

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves...

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;…”

There are days…

…when my energy is spent and I can’t shake a low level sense of dread attached to the weight of my responsibilities. I retire at night with a vague and oppressive thought that I have not accomplished all that I should.

My anxiety is not without reason… too many yellow sticky notes, unanswered phone calls, never-ending flow of emails, client expectations, ministry demands, business obligations, family needs, medical issues, lengthy to-do lists… the lawn mower quit working, the dog is sick, my kid’s in trouble at school, I’m past a deadline, I lost my wallet, the bills are mounting, my child is throwing up, I can't find my glasses, and my shirt is missing a button…

When does it end? I want to give up! But I can’t. I have a family and customers to think of. People need me. They’re depending on me. I must keep going... but I don’t want to.

There are days…

…when life is drudgery. I don’t think I can go on but I do, barely. It’s not fun. I’m living in my own power, and it’s obvious that is isn’t enough power to get the job done. I exist, but I am not alive. Existing, but not living. 

Then there are days… 

…(like this one) when I read a passage in the Bible (like this one) and my spirit is reinvigorated with a moment of hope (like this one).

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
David, Psalm 34.18-19 NASU

These are days… 

...when I know deep inside of my “earthen vessel,” that I carry a “treasure,” which is “the surpassing greatness of the power… of God.” This is the fuel that powers the engine of my being. It’s not from me, about me, or because of me. It’s Jesus in me who transforms my day into one worth living. He inspires enough hope in my heart to put a smile on my face, a lightness in my step, and a bit of optimism in my outlook for the day. I am...

“afflicted... but not crushed;

perplexed, but not despairing;

struck down, but not destroyed”.

There are days… 

…when the forecast is bright and sunny. This is one of those days!

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Graphic at top of post from http://goodnews.ws/2010/02/19/the-power-of-optimism-and-positive-thinking/ .