Ever had a day where you felt like you failed at everything? From the moment your feet hit the ground, you made not one, single, solitary, good decision? Yeah, me too. In fact, today feels a little bit like that. Although, I did make a few good choices early on, so I guess it’s not quite that bad, but still, not my best day.
It’s really easy on days like this to spend the evening hours beating yourself up. And trust me, I’ve spent a little bit of time doing just that. But then I realized that of all the days in the year to have a bad day, this is the best one. It’s Easter.
To me Easter is more than just a day for egg hunts and stuffing my face with a ridiculous amount of chocolate. Easter is about a promise. A promise made centuries ago and still being fulfilled today. A man, fully human, and fully God was nailed to a cross, laid in a tomb and three days later, He rose again. He bore my sin and my shame so I don’t have to. Even on my worst day, His grace is sufficient. And the best part is – it’s free. All I had to do was ask for it. I don’t deserve it, but because He loves me so much, it’s mine for the asking. That’s it.
One of my very favorite verses is in the book of Isaiah. It reminds me that no matter how big of a mess I make, He can redeem it. Even if I manage to burn it all down, He can create beauty from the ashes.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3
If you don’t know the Author of All Creation on a personal level, you’re missing out. There’s truly no better coping mechanism for a bad day; and He makes it so easy. All you have to do is invite Him in. It’s just that simple.
I’m ready for the clean slate I get tomorrow. I’m hoping I make better use of it than I did today’s, but I know that even if I don’t, He still loves me. Because at the end of the day, I am His – signed, sealed and delivered.
Shannon R. Brown 