Do you ever have those days when you think to yourself, “Why did I get out of bed for THIS?”  You know, those days when every single stressor in your life decides to emerge from hibernation?  You can’t get the kids out the door for school, you don’t have time to make a lunch, the coffee cup lid isn’t on tight enough, you’re out of gas, you’re late for a meeting and stuck behind a rolling roadblock, unprepared to meet a deadline, get a call from your child’s school, have bills past due, have a sick child-spouse-self and just want to curl up in a ball and sleep your life off.

Yes, in our hectic and frenetic world staying in bed with the covers pulled up tight can sound like a much better option than swimming into the melee.  It’s in those moments when we have to force ourselves to turn toward God, take a deep breath and exhale, “You’ve got this.”  And indeed, God does have our day in hand.  The act of getting out of bed some mornings is an acknowledgement of our trust and faith in the One who has counted each hair on our head.

“You’ve got this,” we whisper.

“YOU’VE got this.”

This morning, my 5 year old was a bear.  We had a super fit over not getting chips for breakfast (he did have Cheez-Its).  Then we had another fit over the fact that Mommy had to leave for work.  I went through all of the stuff we go through when we’re working through fits.  Here are your choices….let Mommy help you calm down… Mommy is not going to engage in this conversation anymore.  As I was reading my devotional about peace, he was right next to me screaming, “CHIPS AND CHEEZ-ITS!!!”  “Lord,” I thought, “please help.”

As I was dropping my first grader off at school, NOT wishing well to anyone around me, a little voice in my head said, “You have a choice right now.  You can continue being cranky and irritable because you had a rough morning and are feeling angry and frustrated.  OR, you can CHOOSE to move beyond your feelings and work to create a positive day.  And so, feeling convicted, I asked God to help me move beyond the anger and frustration and work to be a blessing in the lives of those I encountered today.

I put my hymn CD in the CD player and let the words wash over me.  I remembered the promises of God that I have hidden in my heart and by the time I pulled into the school parking lot, I was ready for the day.

Here are some of my go-to verses when I’m feeling like I just should have stayed in bed for the day….I pray that they can be a blessing to you as well.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.  Where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and Earth.  He will not let your foot slip.  Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  Psalm 121

Fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord Your God He it is who doth go with thee.  He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Deuteronomy  31:6

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Of course, there are hundreds more I could put.  But these get me through some of my toughest days.  The KJV are the ones I memorized as a child!!  Sorry, it’s just how I know them!

And so, whatever kind of day you are having, I pray that Christ’s peace, which transcends all understanding, will fall upon you and that you can say with confidence, “Lord God, you’ve got this.”

Blessings and Peace,

Sara