You may remember the well-known children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Although published in 1972, its content is still relatable—and not just for kids. After all, who can say they never experience one of “those days” they would just as soon forget?
No doubt our lives have been full of lousy days lately, and for good reason. Besides the nasty virus going around, there have been job losses, restrictions of all types, closures galore, and well—you know the rest!
But while the pandemic and its aftereffects are valid reasons why life suddenly bottomed out for a lot of people, there is no masking the fact that we often experience many days throughout a “normal” year that just seem to go down the drain. The end results may differ from one person to the next, but some common outcomes include physical as well as mental grievances, such as:
- A dull or throbbing headache
- A gloomy perspective about everything!
- The feeling of tension or aching throughout the body
- The hopelessness of any good to come
- A strong desire to escape the negative situation
- The feeling of isolation and sadness
- A snippy or irritated response toward others
So, how do you get over a really bad day?
I posed this question on social media to see how others handle life when things don’t go so well. I quickly received several responses, such as:
- Talking with a trusted friend
- Changing up their routine
- Reading Scripture & praying to God for help
- Going for a relaxing drive
- Enjoying a favorite snack or food item (i.e. chocolate!)
- Seeking out comedy relief on TV or with friends
- Getting back to nature/going for a walk
- Listening to favorite music
- Trying to sleep it off and wake up renewed
I think most of us find it fairly easy to get past occasional bad days by trying remedies such as the ones listed above. But it’s those super discouraging days that turn into wearisome weeks, monotonous months, or downright yucky years when life becomes overwhelming!
From bad to better
When those rough days turn into a miserable mindset overall, it’s helpful to make an intentional decision to rely on the strength of the Lord for help. I know with certainty that I can’t just drive dismal days away on my own—believe me, I’ve tried! But Scripture shows that we can trust in God to guide us through even the darkest days of life. Here are a few to help you, too!
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ~Isaiah 40:31
“You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” ~Psalm 59:16
“He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” ~2 Corinthians 12:9
My hope is that more of our “bad” days will instead turn to glad ones as we continue learning how to trust God through them all.