Face the day with...eagerness!
Is it possible to face the day with eagerness instead of dread?
Many singles hate to hear their alarm clock go off in the morning. They cringe at the thought of dealing with all the aggravations of daily living. For some, it's a job they don't like. For others it's chronic illness or a disability.
The bottom line is this: How can I be enthusiastic about my life when it's not going the way I want?
I wrestled with this problem for decades. In this article, I hope to give you some actions to think about, some possible answers, and what helps me get out of bed in the morning.
As I often say, this single life is no bed of roses. It's tough. You either have to take on the exhausting task of being a one-person cheerleading squad, or you have to discover a source of true motivation that never fails.
Let's jump in.
Face the day of physical problems
Pain, illness and disability are intimidating trials to face every day. If they're not among your problems now, someday they will be.
At the age of 25 I got knocked down hard with radiation treatments for cancer. Back in 1976, the science was still crude. I went through months of diarrhea, vomiting, and severe coughing and dropped to 112 pounds. I needed help just to walk.
Now I can't necessarily identify with your health situation, but I still have vivid memories of waking up to face another grueling treatment.
I found that when I hit rock bottom, God was there. When we can't go on in our natural strength, that's when the Holy Spirit's supernatural strength takes over. The goal for me was to make it to bedtime, one day at a time. Any longer view was too scary.
You can face the day when you live your life in "day-tight compartments."
Jesus said each day's troubles are enough to concern yourself with. I put enough of those one-day compartments together to finish 55 cobalt treatments.
The greatest inspiration for ill and disabled people is Joni Eareckson Tada. If you haven't heard of her, you need to get acquainted with her encouraging web site. She shares how Christ took her from a quadriplegic to the hero of millions, including me. She is honest about her doubts and fears. Let her teach you how to keep going when your hope is low.
Motivation by anticipation
One of the most effective motivators is having something to look forward to. It has played such a vital part in my life I wrote an entire article about it.
We need to congratulate ourselves when we reach a goal, and if it's just the goal of daily living, we should schedule a small treat to celebrate. That reward is different for everyone. I enjoy time reading a good book or watching a favorite TV program. Sometimes it's a special meal I make for myself. I look forward to walking my dog and being outside.
Your reward should not be expensive or elaborate. You don't want to go in debt and add to your problems.
Having something to look forward to makes the day go faster. It brings a sense of accomplishment—which is always fulfilling. When you know there's something fun ahead, it helps you face the day with a sense of hope.
Delighting in the love of God
We Christians can face the day assured that God is on our side, but to do that, we have to first make a choice:When we get on God's side, he puts himself on our side.
The secret of prayer is not manipulating God to get on our side, but surrendering our will first so we're on his side. We're the follower and he's the Leader. As long as we keep that straight, he takes care of us, as the shepherd watches over his sheep.
It's a thrilling feeling when you know God is for you. Many singles never experience that because they're holding a grudge against him. God is always for the believer, regardless of our circumstances, and that's what's hard to understand. We can ask why God allows suffering to come into our life without getting an answer, but when we trust God in spite of our suffering, he changes our perspective.
We hit spiritual maturity when we bask in God's love no matter how our life is going. Good times are sporadic. God's love is constant. We look at our suffering and say, "Welp, I can't figure this out, but I know God loves me no matter what."
Jesus Christ doesn't save us then leave us on our own. He sent the Holy Spirit to live within us to help us face the day. Most days we don't feel like a superhero but that doesn't change the truth of God's gift.
We, as Christian singles, need to start putting that gift to use. Practicing the presence of God throughout the day reminds us we are not alone in our struggles. The invincible God stands with us. He is real, he is near, and he cares.
Here's a quick prayer to say when it's time to face the day:
"Lord, with you beside me, we can overcome anything that comes my way today. Thank you! Amen."
