My Attitude Stinks

Yesterday, my attitude stank. I was cranky, despondent, discouraged, and frustrated. I was frustrated with some circumstances in my life, I didn’t feel like eating right, I didn’t feel like being nice to my kids, I felt like I deserved a break.

Matt talked to me and tried to encourage me, but I was in a foul mood. It was just a bad day. I decided to go to bed early and get some good sleep. Amazingly this morning, I woke up encouraged, filled with hope, and ready to face the day.

What Was the Difference between Yesterday and Today?

So what was the difference between yesterday and today? Both days I spent time with God in prayer and Bible reading. None of my circumstances changed from yesterday to today. The only thing that changed was my attitude and a good night’s sleep. I woke up this morning to a fresh new day. I was reminded of one of my favorite Bible verses.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness.”

I often hear people misquote this verse. They say that the Lord’s faithfulness is new every morning. While it is true that God is always faithful, that is not exactly what the verse is saying. This verse says that God’s compassions are new every morning.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines compassion as “a suffering with another; pity; commiseration; a mixed passion compounded of love and sorrow.” If we put this definition back into the verse, it says that God suffers through our day with us in pity and commiseration mixed with love. Why does God do this? Because He knows and understands we live in a sinful world full of grief, heartache, problems, and pain. He simply chooses to walk with us through the pain each and every day.

So if you feel like you can’t make it through today, remember that Jesus is hurting with you. Lean on Him and let Him carry you through today. Tomorrow will come, and just as sure as the sun will rise, Jesus will be there again to walk beside you.