Be Glad for Each Day God Gives You 

My daughter and her family were preparing to leave on a vacation to the beach. The day before their departure, I asked one of my young grandsons if he was ready to go. He excitedly affirmed his anticipation of the trip. He went on to demonstrate what he expected to do the next morning when he woke up. He envisioned himself sitting up in bed, then releasing an enthusiastic scream of joy. His stiffened body, his gaping mouth, and the wide-eyed look on his face reminded me of the similar expression Macauley Culkin made famous in the Home Alone movies. I don’t know if my grandson actually reacted that way when the new day dawned or not. I wouldn’t be surprised if his first waking moments were more sluggish than full of enthusiasm. However, I am sure it didn’t take him long to regain the spirit of excitement for what lay ahead that day.

Many of us are familiar with the Bible verse that declares, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). It can be easy to joyfully celebrate the day when we are heading out for a vacation. Maybe it is more difficult when we wake up a week later to the day when we are leaving to go back home. Or possibly some of us are waking up to a day when we are facing less pleasant experiences, such as a doctor’s appointment or tackling some difficult issue at work. Maybe some are waking up to another day of pain, sickness, or other physical ailments. Some may be waking up to a day of dealing with broken relationships and their consequences. Sometimes the hardest days to get enthused about are simply the ones that are rather mundane – nothing special going on – just another routine day.

However, this verse reminds us that every day is one that the Lord has made. Whether it is the Monday morning of a work week or the Friday morning beginning a vacation. Whether the day is full of activity or quietness. Whether the day promises challenges or pleasures. No matter the circumstances, it is a new day God has given us. Let’s seek to see every day as a gift of God.

Additionally, there is reason to rejoice and be glad in this day. Some days it easier to discover those reasons than it is on other days. Nevertheless, God has seen fit to give us breath and life for another day. This day may have its challenges, but it also presents us with numerous opportunities. If we are trusting Jesus as our Savior, it is another day to fellowship with Him, to serve Him, and to point others toward Him. If God has given us another day, He has a purpose for us being here. Let’s rejoice in that truth and seek to fulfill that purpose.

This verse also reminds us that joy and gladness are choices we make. We may not necessarily feel joyful when we wake up in the morning. We may feel tired, or we may be in pain. Our hearts may ache over a loss we have experienced. We may not feel much like rejoicing. However, the psalmist declared, “We will rejoice”. We exercise our will and choose to rejoice regardless of how we feel. We give God thanks in spite of the pain and challenges. We praise Him in the midst of our storms. We rejoice knowing that He is working all things out for good. We are glad because we aren’t going to face this day alone – the Lord will be with us.

Maybe the Lord doesn’t expect us to wake up every day with a scream of excitement, but let’s choose to be joyful, glad, and grateful for another day He has given us.