Praise Him in My Dismay
A Bad Day at the Office – Part 2
Scripture Reading: Acts 14:19-28
Key Verse: Acts 14:22b
“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
For the Apostle Paul it was certainly a “bad day at the office” in our story that we studied yesterday. Preaching God’s Word and healing a crippled man were rewarded by being stoned by an angry mob. I wonder if Paul had a thought or two of “life just isn’t fair.”
What do you do when you have a bad day? What is your response to life turning on you, especially when you are doing your best to do good? In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained to us what we should do. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
Can you rejoice and be glad when you are having a bad day? It is not easy, but if we have a firm grip on the promises of God we should rise above our feelings and praise God. Our faith can proclaim that “all things work for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). We can stand strong in praising the One who promises that He determines how much we can take and won’t allow anything or anyone to go beyond that line (1 Corinthians 10:13). Next time you are having a “bad day at the office,” remember: Praise Him anyway!
Father, remind me when I start to complain that I have much to praise you for! In Jesus’ name, amen.