In the midst of life’s challenges, we often forget a fact: that nothing in life is permanent. Think back, can you clearly remember what you were worried about on this date, exactly seven years ago? Or even a year ago? If you can, it must have been something deeply significant. Most of us cannot. The fact that so many of our past worries have faded shows us something important: the troubles of today will also pass. Hard days always give way to joyful ones. Challenges will resolve, worries will fade, and new blessings will emerge.
I was reminded of this truth on one particularly dramatic day. It started off as a normal day: I got my son ready for school, dropped him off, and went back home as I had an appointment with the electrician. I wanted him to install trunkings to hide the loose cables dangling across our walls.
By the time I returned to the house, the electrician was waiting. He wasted no time getting on with the job, but without a wall detector that could guide him through our concrete walls, he drilled right into a PVC water pipe. A loud hiss and sudden spray confirmed the disaster. My normal day turned into a race against time. I had to shut off the water supply, called in a plumber, and watched as he broke into the wall to replace the damaged pipe.
It was a messy morning: water, debris, dust, noise, and frustration filled the house. By the time it was resolved, the morning had slipped away, leaving me drained and barely ready to rush out again. But I had a child in school that needed to get back home. So, I shrugged off the stress, and left for school.
Pick up was easy and within a few minutes, we were back in the car. I started the engine, and rolled onto the road. Then the car went silent and stopped without warning. I tried the ignition repeatedly, but it didn’t start. My first thought was the battery, I opened the bonnet without a clue on what to do. The sight of the engine confirmed my helplessness. To make matters worse, in my part of the world, roadside breakdown services don’t really exist. People usually call their mechanic when they have a breakdown, who then arranges a pickup. I didn’t have a mechanic.
So, I stood, staring at the engine, totally confused. But in less than a minute, a car pulled over, and the driver asked if I needed some help. He wasn’t just any passer-by; he was a mechanic who was test-driving a car he had just repaired.
He checked my car, tried to jump-start it with his battery, and troubleshot. Nothing worked. Eventually, he concluded it was an electrical fault. Without hesitation, he called an auto-electrician who arrived with a diagnostic equipment. The fault was traced to the junction block. Right there, on the roadside, the auto electrician cut a piece of wire, shunted the block, and started the car. Then he warned me to get it replaced as soon as possible as that was a temporary fix which was not guaranteed to work the next day.
It was one of the hottest days of the year. My son and I spent nearly three hours under the blazing sun while we waited for the auto electrician and got the car started. By the time we drove back through rush-hour traffic and got home, it was almost dusk.
What a stressful day!
When I finally lay down on my bed that night, I was completely drained. I was worried about how to get the car fixed, and how to get my son to school daily. The thoughts became too overwhelming, I decided I didn’t want to think about it anymore that night. I simply wanted the day to end. So, I reached for the lamp, switched off the light, put my head on the pillow and closed my eyes.
Then my phone rang. It was my daughter. That instant, I remembered it was her Result Day in Uni; something we had been looking forward to, but completely forgot in the chaos of the day. The moment I said hello, my day shifted. She was bubbling with joy, over the moon with her results which had exceeded all expectations. I could feel her excitement spilling through the phone as she relayed every detail, and instantly sat up in bed, my fatigue gave way to energy. I swayed in delight, dancing to the melody that flowed only in my heart, smiling ear to ear, as I shared in her joy. The stress of the day melted away instantly. Joy over shadowed it all.
When I put my head back on the pillow for the second time that night, I was smiling, overjoyed and grateful. Then, I thought to myself, “What a beautiful day after all.” Read https://fullnineyards.com/the-priceless-gift-of-laughter-take-it-everywhere-you-go/ and carry joy and laughter everywhere you go.
Personal reflection
That particular day reflected just how dynamic our lives are. Our situations can change, sometimes instantly and drastically. The rhythm of ups and downs is part of the human experience. The same day that was filled with a chain of challenges for me, ended as a joyful one. This tells us that one bad moment doesn’t define the entire day, just as one difficult season doesn’t define a lifetime.
If we look deeply, we will realise in many of life’s difficult moments, help is lying around. A mechanic showed up miraculously for me. I was amazed by the mechanic’s kindness. This stranger stood with us through it all, he made sure my car was working before he continued his journey. And that car worked every day until the replacement parts arrived.
So, if you’re having a really bad day or even a difficult season in life, don’t worry, help is around, and your joy is coming. Periods of difficulty may seem overwhelming, but they don’t last forever. Every situation, whether joyful or painful, passes with time.
One practical way to shift your perspective on a bad day is to reflect on your own journey. If you can’t remember your worries a year ago, know that the events that trouble you today will soon fade into memory. Even the bigger challenges, the ones you can remember, most of them are now stories you tell, not storms you’re still standing in. If yesterday’s trials passed, why would today’s be different?
Therefore, don’t worry, don’t waste your energy on something that is destined to shift. Rather, look for practical solutions: make a call, make a move, look around, ask for help. That challenge will resolve; this we often forget in the midst of life’s storms.
Whenever life feels hard, remind yourself: This too shall pass. It’s a simple phrase, but a powerful one. Write it down, repeat it when difficult situations come, and let it anchor your perspective.
Finally, remember that the beauty of life lies in its constant rhythm of change: the ups and downs. That’s life!