This Is the Day the Lord Has Made

Psalm 118:24

“The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.” (NIV)

We've all heard this verse before. Maybe we've even said it first thing in the morning. But have you ever really stopped and thought about what it means?

I think sometimes we get so caught up in the everyday craziness of life that we forget just how much we have to be thankful for.

Let's face it. Not every day is sunshine and roses. Some mornings we wake up already exhausted. We've got bills to pay, work to do, family to worry about, and a list of things that needed to be done yesterday. Sometimes life just flat wears us out!

And then we're supposed to rejoice?

Well, yes. But here's the thing. God never said we had to pretend everything was wonderful.

When you go back and read Psalm 118, you'll find that the writer had been through some pretty rough times. He faced enemies, struggles, and situations where it seemed like everything was against him. But through it all, God was faithful.

By the time we get to verse 24, he's not celebrating because life was easy. He's celebrating because of what God had done.

And I think that's something we all need to remember.

Our joy isn't supposed to depend on how good our circumstances are. It's supposed to be rooted in how good our God is.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I wake up every morning smiling, singing praises, and ready to tackle the world. Because I don't! Some mornings I'd rather pull the covers back over my head and forget the world exists for a little while. Lol.

But that doesn't mean God hasn't been good to me.

It doesn't mean He isn't working in my life, even when I can't see it.

And it certainly doesn't mean I don't have reasons to be thankful.

Something else I find interesting is what comes right before this verse. Psalm 118 talks about the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone. Jesus Himself referred to those verses in Matthew 21:42.

Think about that for a minute.

Jesus was rejected, mocked, beaten, and crucified. What looked like defeat became the greatest victory of all. Through Him, we have salvation, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life.

If that doesn't give us a reason to rejoice, I don't know what does!

Sometimes I think we spend so much time focusing on what God hasn't done yet that we overlook everything He's already done.

We worry about tomorrow. We replay yesterday. We get frustrated when things don't happen on our timetable.

Meanwhile, we're missing the blessings right in front of us.

Maybe today wasn't a great day. Maybe something went wrong at work. Maybe you're dealing with health problems, family issues, or something that's weighing heavily on your heart.

You can still be thankful.

You can still trust God.

You can still rejoice.

And no, that doesn't mean you have to be happy about the problems you're facing. There's a big difference between being happy about a situation and having joy in the Lord despite that situation.

We don't rejoice because everything in life is good. We rejoice because God is good, even when life isn't.

I think that's the part we sometimes forget.

So whether today brings laughter or tears, answered prayers or more waiting, remember that God hasn't changed.

He's still faithful. He's still working. He's still worthy of our praise.

And maybe instead of starting our mornings thinking about everything we have to do or everything that could go wrong, we should start by thanking Him for what He's already done.

Because every day we have is another opportunity to love, forgive, grow, serve, and share His goodness with somebody else.

This is the day the Lord has made. It may not be the day we planned, expected, or even wanted, but we can still choose to rejoice in the God who holds it all together.

A little food for thought: Are we only thankful when God answers our prayers the way we want, or can we still praise Him when His plans look different from ours?

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, thank You for another day and for all the blessings I sometimes take for granted. Forgive me for the times I get so caught up in my worries and frustrations that I forget to recognize Your goodness. Help me find joy in You, even when life gets messy. Remind me that You are faithful, Your timing is perfect, and Your love never changes. Thank You most of all for Jesus and the salvation we have through Him. In Jesus' name, Amen.