Rainy Days and Mondays

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5

As my husband and I drove home from dropping one of our cars at the mechanic this morning we remarked about the fact that it is Monday and it is raining--again! I love living in New England and I love the rain but after a while something inside me longs for a glimpse of the sun again.

We reminisced about the old Carpenter's song, "Rainy Days and Mondays". Yes, that would put us smack dab in the middle of the 70's. I'll never forget the sad sound of Karen Carpenter's voice as she began the song..."Talking to myself and feelin' old. Sometimes I'd like to quit. Nothin' ever seems to fit. Hangin' around--nothin' to do but frown. Rainy days and Mondays always get me down..."

Even if you're an "Up" person, from time to time life can really get to you, can't it? Maybe it's a health issue, or a financial struggle, or a personal struggle involving your spouse or a child. Let's face it. We've all had those days when we just cried out to the Lord and said, "I can't do this anymore--it's too hard!" What do you think the Lord says when we cry out to him in that way? Does he say, "Don't be a baby," or "Come on. Pull yourself together. You're embarrassing us both!" No, I don't think so. He usually says something like this to me,"I know this is hard. I know you feel like giving up. But hold on to me--I will see you through this."

I love this verse in Psalm 42 because David is basically having a talk with himself. He's saying, "Why are you so down? Remember where your hope is. It doesn't feel like it now but one day you will praise Him for all of this!"

We sing a song in our church called, "I Still Run To You". The last part of the song says, "Though sometimes my mind's confused my heart still knows what's true: That you alone are faithful, the One that I run to. When all the world deserts me I still run, I still run, I still run to You."

Rainy days and Mondays will come and go. As long as our hope is Him--we're going to be OK!