“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)
Those with afflictions can get into the habit of putting their lives on hold, waiting for a “better” day, a day where the thorn does not hurt so much, a day when they are feeling better before doing the things they want to do.
I will never forget the time we were visiting some relatives in the mountains of east Tennessee. We came across two houses side by side.
One house was brand new, new paint, brightly colored, sparkling windows–a picture perfect house. The other house was a rundown tar-paper shack with rotting wood, it hardly looked livable. Yet my relatives told me that there was a family that owned both homes. That family had just built the new home but was living in the old shack because they didn’t want to mess up their new house. That is one of the dumbest things I’ve come across in my life. Imagine choosing to live in a rundown tar-paper shack when you own a nice new home.
There are many parallels that come to mind, everything from those who save things for “rainy days” that never come, or for “special company” that never seems to arrive. Then there are those who make big plans and promises to themselves and their families but are always “too busy” and will always be too busy.
“Tomorrow” can be a terrible word for those who are always awaiting that magical day yet it never seems to arrive. Don’t put off, or put away, something good for tomorrow. And don’t “live in a tar-paper shack” when the Lord has blessed you with better things that you’ve been afraid to use because of foolish reasons, or because you are waiting.
Don’t wait for a perfect day to arrive before doing the things you want to do. And if you are having one of those “better” days, make the most of it, do something you wouldn’t normally get to do, don’t wait to live your life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to use every day and every good thing You have given us. Help us not to count on tomorrow but to live today. Amen.
About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. He thanks God for the better days, and the not-so-good ones.
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Are you guilty of always waiting for the better days to arrive before living your life to the fullest? Do you take advantage of those better days when they do arrive?
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