Have you ever had days when you do not really like yourself? Days when you are impatient and irritable? Days when your attitude is not the best?

I have experienced days like that.

Those days may have occurred because of stress, lack of sleep. Or simply worn out due to life’s demands. Whatever the reason, when I have those days, I am my own worst critic.

I would beat myself up saying---“why can’t you just get it together?”

We all have days when we are not at our finest.

But I take solace in knowing the Apostle Paul could relate. In Romans 7:7-25, the Apostle Paul talks about the ongoing struggle and desire of wanting to do what is right but inevitably doing what is wrong. Loving God yet fighting against the internal sin nature.

Explicitly, in the next chapter the Apostle Paul reminds us: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”(Romans 8:1).

NO CONDEMNATION….do you understand what that means?

It means my worth, your worth is not based upon performance. Our worth is based upon the ultimate price Jesus Christ willingly paid for us. HE PAID FOR IT ALL!

Even on our bad days Jesus’ love for us never changes. His love stands firm and is always secure.

Bad days do not devalue you or make you less-than in God’s eyes. We are not just tolerated by the Father, we are cherished by the Father.

This does not excuse any wrong actions on our part!

What it does mean is we do not have to live in defeat. I {we} sometimes need this reminder.

So, even on our bad days and less than finest moments, we do not have to stay in condemnation. We can hold our heads high, pick ourselves up, because our identity does not rest in how we feel instead our identity reside in who we are in Christ Jesus.

As the Gospel singer sings---”You love me in my good…You love me in my bad…You didn’t erase my future because of my past (You could’ve withheld but mercy intervened)….I’m glad You love me through my good and my bad (You never took Your love away).” “(You see through every mistake) …You keep on…lovin’ me…. (Through every stumble You prove to Your children You always there).” “Who else could do that (Nobody but Jesus).”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am grateful that because of Your Son, Jesus, I do not have to live in defeat. I thank You for being a God of love. Thank You for being an unchanging God who understands the struggles of my bad days and the joys of my good days. Father, I pray for wisdom and knowledge to steer me on those bad days so that I can see Your glory in every moment. In Jesus ‘Name, Amen.

PEARLStoPONDER: Bad days are days to give God extraordinary praise and gratitude. Remember we are His, even on bad days!

Romans 5:3-5--Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Philippians 4:6-7-- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 41:10-- Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 9:9-10-- The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.¹⁰ And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Ecclesiastes 7:14-- In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

**Lyrics from song “Good & Bad” by J. Moss**