The Mad, the Bad, the Sad, and the Glad

Since I started writing on a more regular basis, I will often hear a phrase or a blurb and think, “Oh, what a great title for a devotion”. Now I know this sounds absolutely backwards for most people who write but as a former teacher, I taught my young students to find a “hook”, something to hang their writing on, so, my blurbs and phrases are my hooks.

I’m not sure where I heard the blurb in the title because I failed to document it, but I think it was from Pastor Robby. It totally sums up how many of my days seem to go. With everything that is going on in the world, it is very easy to just get plain mad. Mad at the decision makers, mad at the corruption, mad at the lack of common sense, mad at the idiots who think themselves better than the rest of the world. Then whoa…who am I to think that I am better than them? Now I’m mad at myself. None are good. No, not one. No one Is righteous.

Romans 3:10-20 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Now the rest is just the cycle for me. There is so much bad, evil, unsavoriness going on in the world that it is easy to get mad and stay mad. But then I look at myself and can really go no further. I do bad, I say bad, I think bad and then I am totally sad. I am so like the rest of the world in this aspect. I’m sad for those who suffer. I am sad for those who know no better. I am sad because I feel helpless in changing the world for the better.

Now this is not a pity party, as many so often to fall into. And yes, I too succumb to the occasional pity party. But, thankfully God steps in and reminds me that there is much to be glad about. I am glad that I am forgiven and not forgotten. I am glad that I am redeemed and not lost to Him. I am glad that God is in control of everything. I am glad that He allows me to see the beauty in the world and know that evil still exists. I am glad that He has already overcome it ALL.

I am all of the above. But, I am learning that if I focus on God, remember that Jesus has already paid the price, and try to do my best for HIS glory, then the mad, bad, and sad, are not so insurmountable. May today be a glad day in the Lord.