One Day at a Time

2020 has been strange and hard, hasn’t it? I can’t fully grasp all the ways it has changed our perspective, but I can speak to a challenge revealed in my own heart, and maybe you can relate. Perhaps, it’s because we are terrible at taking one single day at a time. The ability to plan and anticipate has been taken from us. Perhaps, that is why this is all so disorienting for us.

Disorienting, yet reorienting, at the same time.

Jesus never asked that we plan for the vacation nine months from now. He never desired for us to lose sleep over how to grow our savings so we could be comfortable in 20 years. He never desired that we live for our kid’s next sporting event or concert. He never meant for us to constantly idolize the anticipation of the “next things,” good or bad! He actually instructs the opposite. Here are the exact words of Jesus, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has its own trouble.” (Matthew 6)

Honest transparency. This principle in that scripture has revealed a true struggle in me. It has forced recognition that I busy myself with the future far more than I should. And perhaps, the only way to break that vicious habit in me is to forcibly take away my ability to place too much value on anticipation.

In these strange days we are living, we cannot easily anticipate. We can only be where we are and live this present moment. We can only trust that God is delivering “manna” for this day alone when we wake up each morning.

Now, I’m not disregarding that we must reasonably plan ahead, as is wise… but I’m certain that God never desired for us to idolize that plan.

2020 has birthed an awareness that I do not want to return to what was gripping me before. I don’t want to be blindly enslaved to anticipation anymore. I want to be here.

My Mama always hummed a gospel tune when I was growing up. I’ve been humming it lately. Maybe you’ll look it up and set it on repeat in your heart today, too. It has given me resolve in weaker moments.

“One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Mysti Chustz has been following Jesus since she was six years old.
• She is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Her most favorite roles are being wife to Philip and mama to Coleman, Mary Lamar, and Clay.
• If one verse was used to describe her life, it would be Philippians 1:6. “Be confident of this, the One who starts the work in you is faithful to complete the work in you.”