Michael Kelley, Guest Contributor
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7
When was your last really bad day?
Not just a mildly frustrating one– the kind of day when everything seems to unravel at once. The meeting that went wrong. The argument at home that left you drained. The headlines that make you anxious about the world your kids are growing up in.
The kind of day when you go to bed exhausted and wake up already tired.
Chances are, you’ve had one recently. It seems that in our current world– where the pace is relentless, the economy uncertain, and the noise constant– those kinds of days are coming more often than they used to.
So, when that day comes (or the next one does), what do you do?
Do you try to “push through” it? “Treat yourself” out of it? “Talk yourself” into a better mood?
We all have coping mechanisms, but maybe there’s something deeper that God is inviting us to during those bad days– a spiritual opportunity.
Peter gives us that invitation in 1 Peter 5:6–7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.”
When Peter wrote this letter, believers were suffering intense persecution under the Roman Empire. Life was unfair, uncertain, and often dangerous. Yet Peter reminded them that humility– placing ourselves under God’s care– is the path to peace and strength.
Notice, he didn’t say, “Be humble.” He said, “Humble yourselves.” That’s an action– a daily decision to let go of control. It’s admitting that you can’t fix everything, that you don’t have all the answers, and that you desperately need God’s help.
And that’s where your very bad day becomes a holy opportunity. Because on those days…
- You’re forced to admit you didn’t see it coming.
- You’re reminded that your emotions can overwhelm you.
- You’re confronted with the fact that you can’t manage it all on your own.
But humility opens the door to grace. It reminds you that God’s hand is mighty enough to carry what you can’t, and His heart is tender enough to care about what you think no one else sees.
So the next time life knocks you down, don’t rush to get back on your feet. Stay there a while. Pray. Acknowledge your weakness. Then cast every care onto the God who loves you.
Because He’s still near the brokenhearted. He still saves those who are crushed in spirit.
And He still cares for you.
DIG DEEPER
Read “If You’re Breathing, Praise the Lord!” by Jonathan Munson
