Sermon Archives (May 20, 2001):

How to Handle a Bad Day – Part 1

Today I am speaking on the subject of “How to Handle a Bad Da y.”

How many have you ever had a real bad day?  I mean a really bad day.   You woke up and the bird singing outside was a buzzard.   That kind of day.   You reach to put on your shoes; only to find that somebody had stole them.  That kind of a bad day.   You looked for breakfast, and there wasn’t any.  That kind of a bad day.   You run for the bus, only to find your bus pass expired yesterday.   That kind of a bad day.    There are days when your spouse has said; “I want a divorce.”  There are days that we face that are darker than dark.   Has this ever happened to you?  How do you handle a bad day?

Here’s a suggestion how King David once exiled handled his bad days,  (Psalms 63:1-4)  “O God, you are my God; early will I seek you: my soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;  To see your power and your glory.   Because your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.  Thus will I bless you while I live: I will lift up my hands in your name.”   That’s one way to face a bad day.

Today I would like to focus on how Jesus Christ handled his bad day, the day of His crucifixion.   He spoke seven things from the cross as he died.   This is a two-part sermon.  I will cover today only three of the words he spoke, and the remaining four a week from now. 

(1)     Christ first spoke these words, (Luke 23:34) "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  On the worst and last day of his life as he hangs on the cross, Jesus said, “forgive them.”  We can learn from that. When you’re having that bad day, the best approach you can take is to forgive everybody who knowingly or unknowingly is messing up your life.   Christ demonstrated two things:   First, despite the wounding, he refused to be victimized.  He remained the Lord of Calvary, as well as the Lamb.  While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.   Second, rather than be controlled by the tragedy, he chose to release God’s love through forgiveness to others.   This act prompted God to open salvation’s door for Him to come into our lives.  So if there is a lesson to learn from our bad days it is that we should forgive them that are ruining our lives.

(2)     The second words Jesus spoken were these, (Luke 23:43)  "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  Here is Christ hanging between two criminals being executed that same day.  One criminal cynically mocks him, by demanding of him, “If you are really who you say you are, get us out of here.”   The second criminal, speaking across the cross replies, “Show a little respect.  You and I deserve this crucifixion, but this man hasn’t done anything.”   And then the second criminal says to Jesus, , “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  And Jesus replied, “You will be with Me in Paradise.”    In our worst days, we could focus on our misery.   Jesus gives us a better example.   Instead of dwelling on himself, he focused on those around him facing the same struggle he had.    There are nights when it is cold.   But for others it will be colder.  Seek to warm them.  There are days when it is hot.  But for others it will be hotter.   We may be hunger, but others will be far more hungry.   Others may not be able to deal with that pain.   But you know what will get you through your tough day?  If you focus not on your pain, but as Jesus did on the pain of others!

(3)     Among the last words Christ spoke were these three words (John 19:30) "It is finished!"   A statement of triumph, Jesus declared the completion of our salvation.  For every day, there is a beginning and an end.   For us, these words are a statement of faith because the victory was not yet grasped, but Christ upon the cross laid hold of that victory in faith by these words.   The way then to live through a bad day is to grip the conviction that despite anything the hand and purpose of God - although He may not as yet have brought it about - can straighten.   When you are in that storm, hold to the faith that there is a purpose and an end.