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When is the last time you had “one of those days?” You know the kind, when it seems like very little is going your way.

Someone said something to you that was painful or untrue…

Your boss or your teacher treated you unfairly…

Someone in your own family did something that hurt you.

Or maybe you just felt like a failure, like everything you tried failed.

Call it what you want, a bad day, a rough patch, or a difficult season, everyone has them.

Several years ago I had the opportunity to counsel a man named Dave through a difficult season of life. His family had fallen apart. His finances were a mess. His health was struggling. He even turned toward some addictive behavior in effort to find relief.

But what he discovered was that no matter what he tried, he couldn’t overcome the pain and frustration that came as a result of bad day after bad day after bad day.

It got so difficult for him that one day Dave decided the best thing for him to do was to quietly take his own life. He had convinced himself that not only would he be better off dead, but the world would be better off without him.

I don’t know if your bad days have ever led you to despair of life, but I am sure they’ve troubled you and at times robbed you of your joy.

By God’s grace, Dave did not end his life. Instead, he discovered a secret that changed everything about him.
What Dave discovered is nothing new. The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of God, shared that he had learned how to fight through even the worst days and the toughest seasons of life — in such a way that he was content. In fact, he says that he was even able to rejoice in the midst of great trial.

Just to be clear, Paul’s life was no bed of roses — he experienced snake bites, ship wrecks, extreme beatings, and constant wrongful accusations from his peers.

So what was his secret to contentment?

Listen to these words from Philippians chapter 4, verses 12 and 13…

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

The first step to overcoming tough times is recognizing what they are there for. God created you to depend upon Him. He uses the bad days and the difficult seasons to remind you of that you don’t have the power to overcome them on your own.

Whether your bad days have been a bump in the road or a major road block they are there to point you to your need of a Savior. You can overcome them — all of them — through Christ who gives you strength.

The next step is to turn to Christ. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you open your Bible and spend time in prayer. If you aren’t party of a local church, find one that teaches the Bible and make sure you get there this Sunday. I’m praying that even now, God will fill your heart with joy, no matter how bad a day it might be.