Sunshine
Photo Credit
Apparently, today was a nightmare day — frightening and hellishly impossible to handle.
I declared today a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day in every way, and I hadn’t even had lunch yet.
What is a girl to do when the rain clouds hang heavy, and the outlook is gloomy?
Some days you have to put your big girl pants on and make your own sunshine.
Over the last 6 years of hard hallelujahs, I’ve learned a few ways to help bring back the happy:
1. Turn off the noise: Is someone squashing your air hose? Take a break from your phone and your e-mail. Spend less time trolling social media sites.
2 Turn up the worship: Create a playlist of songs that makes your heart sing and play on repeat. Make time for church where God inhabits the praises of His people.
3. Tune in to creation: Get outside and note the beauty all around you. Breathe in deeply and relax your weary spirit.
4. Turn toward community: Go out for coffee with a friend and laugh till your tummy hurts. Ask a few close friends to pray for you.
Remember His mercies are new every morning. The sun may hide for a bit, but your hope will never be fully cut off.
Fill your day with sunshine — joyful and full of expectation.
Photo Credit
Something to think about…
Thank you so much for hosting each week. Blessings to you
I am so sorry you had such a rough day! Praying for you, sweet friend. 🙂
Thank you, Cheryl. You are such a blessing to me.
Sorry for the bummer of a day.
I make my own sunshine by just moving forward, and getting stuff done. I can sit in a pool of self pity all day…”Oh, I’m terminally ill, and it HURTS!”, or I can get up and choose to be productive despite pain, nausea, and other nasty stuff.
The hours will pass regardless, but if I’ve accomplished something, the evening seems somehow brighter.
Does that make sense?
That’s a good word! So sorry for your difficult day. Praying that tomorrow is a lot better!
Thanks, sweet friend. So far, so good. 🙂
Lyli, I hope your day improved. It is so true that there are days we must make our own sunshine. As we do any one, or all, of your suggestions, it is amazing how He is faithful to make the day a little bit easier. Praying today is better! XO
Thanks, Joanne. I prayed through & remembered that nothing is a surprise to my God. He is able. I just decided to stop fretting & start praying.
Turning off social media is a huge help when those terrible, horrible, no good days happen, Lyli. I am finding that I need that disconnect more and more rather than the opposite when the days feel overwhelming and the hard is pressing it. That is a great piece of advice, but I love the following… Get into Worship. That one… that is the one I forget to do sometimes and I need to remember more.
Thank you!
Blessings,
Dawn
I will leave my iPhone softly playing worship music all day long at work if I am struggling with life.
Awe, hope your day improved, Lyli. ((Hug))
Good tips today for staying in the light of His hope. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. <3
Thanks, Brenda. Two loved ones in the hospital at once. Have mercy!
4 excellent suggestions, Lyli. Turn up the worship is one of my favorite ones to get back into the Sonshine.
Love how you spelled it Sonshine. I almost made that spelling the title of this post.
Luli, We would love to see your great articles on http://www.CollectiveFaith.com. Please join and share with our Christian community.
Lyli, your advise, those little tabs, are so good and real. How often do we each need to touch God in the midst of such heaviness or darkness or troubles. You have brought some light my way.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
You put a big smile on my face today, friend. I am always so encouraged when I visit your space and am thankful for your friendship.
I especially like the third idea of getting outside to enjoy nature, God’s creation.
This is a big one for me, Constance. I work a desk job in an office with no windows. Getting outside helps me so much, & I need to be more intentional about it.
I get you. I love your list. I like the taking time out for nature, but I am afraid when I go out I take my camera sometimes. I get so caught up in framing shots. I need to build real community more too. I have a great online community, but that is not the same. I love your playlist. 🙂
You rock, Mary. It is a blessing to have sisters who “get” crazy me.