THIS is the day that the Lord has made

"This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it." 

Psalm 118:24

     I've sung this verse hundreds of times in my life in that upbeat, happy, Sunday school song. I never thought much about it until I read it today. It struck me in a new way. Actually, it hit me like a ton of bricks. THIS is the day that the Lord has made. This day when life is good and I'm feeling the abundant blessings of God, yes, but also THIS day, when my children are at each others' throats, the laundry is piled to the ceiling, my nerves are frayed and I've just lost my temper for the sixteenth time. And THIS day, when we were told that my mother-in-law had Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and 6-9 months to tie up a lifetime of hopes, dreams and relationships. THIS is the day that the Lord has made.

     The Lord, who loved me to the extent of sacrificing His precious, perfect Son to save my messed up, rebellious, sinful self. The Lord, who knows me inside and out and still never gives up on me. The Lord, who longs for my undivided love and devotion and is the only one who's truly worthy of it. The Lord, who sees the big picture - past, present and future and knows what I need long before I ever figure it out. The Lord, who asks me to trust Him even, no, especially when life gets hard and I don't understand. The Lord, who forgives me completely, over, and over, and over again. He doesn't make mistakes. Nothing slips past Him.

    Let us rejoice, not in a superficial, unauthentic way by pretending everything is great and hiding the dirty, ugly mess behind a pristine "church mask". That won't do. Rejoice. Raw emotion and all. Rejoice. Heart laid bare. He likes to keep it real. Rejoice. For the opportunity to grow closer to Him, more like Him, to be used by Him. Rejoice. Because He never said this life would be easy. On the contrary, He said “In this world you will have trouble." Wait. Here comes my favorite part. "But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Rejoice. Because I have the God of the universe on my side and NOTHING can separate me from Him (Romans 8:37-39).

     And be glad, to know that He is doing wonderful things in and through me this day. Be glad, that I'm not alone, He is right there walking through it with me, holding my hand (Isaiah 41:13). Be glad, that He's been there before, He knows the way.

     In It. I am to rejoice and be glad now. In. This. Day. Not looking forward. Not looking back. This day provides all the reason I need to rejoice and be glad.

     This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it because I have a Heavenly Father who cares about every detail of my life, "the very hairs of (my) head are all numbered" (Matthew 10:30). The good, the bad and the ugly. Every day is made by Him, and for Him, and that makes every day worthy of rejoicing and gladness.

~ Kari