Work. School. Kids. Laundry. Groceries. Yard work. All those chores that never really seem to get done. In our day to day life it is so easy to get lost in the rhythms of survival that we lose the bigger picture. We worry so much about to do lists and the things we need to get done that we forget to appreciate. Today is special. Right here, right now, because this is the day (this is the day) that the Lord has made, and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.
This simple hymn from 1967 comes out of Psalm 118 and it’s talking about every day. When I was younger, and we sang it in church, I definitely thought that we were just singing about it being Sunday. My kid-brain thought, “okay the rest of the week is all yours, but Sunday belongs to God. So, we get to go to church, so we should celebrate that it’s Sunday, or something like that.”
My kid-brain was wrong. When you look at Psalm 118 it is more about the amazing love that God has for his people. Psalm 118:4-9,
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Verse after verse we see a picture of a God who loves us deeply and wants to walk with us and protect us with his steadfast love that endures forever. And forever includes today. We face many storms in our lives. From the minor ones of laundry that is never finished to the big ones like the loss of a loved one. Throughout these storms, we can remember that we are people of hope, loved by God, and we can find refuge in his steadfast love.
This is the day that the Lord has made. I can rejoice and be glad in it even on the bad days. Weeping may last for the night, the longest night of your life, but joy comes with the morning. Whatever storm you are facing today take, a moment to remember that you are deeply loved and significant to God.