I wanted to stay in bed. I didn’t want just a few more minutes of rest. I wanted to make a day of it. I wanted to watch junk tv and gather a pile of junk food to graze on all day. Maybe that’s how you wake up nearly every morning, so my first thoughts of the day don’t surprise you, but I’m a positive and busy person. I enjoy the promise a new day holds. I like facing challenges head on. I want to grow every day, and it takes effort to move through the day…not stay in bed.

I pulled myself out of bed. I wasn’t happy about it. I started to get ready. I wasn’t happy about it. I made the bed and resigned myself to being up for the day. I wasn’t happy about it.

I pulled into the church parking lot. Yes, it was a Sunday. How could I possibly choose a Sunday as a wannabe junk day? To be honest, I’m no holier on Sundays than any other day. If I have an issue on Monday through Saturday, I’m likely to have it on Sunday. I venture to guess you’re the same if you’re honest about it.

And speaking of honesty, it’s the route I chose when I got out of my car and saw a friend who had been going through some struggles and looks to me for encouragement and guidance. My other option was to put on a happy face to mask my own bad attitude and speak encouragement through my gritted teeth. I knew it wasn’t the best option. Don’t get me wrong. I usually set my self aside to encourage others, but this was different. Authenticity trumped encouragement. Actually, authenticity offered encouragement! You see, when my friend asked how I’d been, I said, “Fine” but quickly corrected: “Well, not really. To be honest…” and I shared my morning.

She smiled and gave me a big hug. “You have those days? That makes me feel so much better!”

My day brightened a bit – and continued to brighten as I put one foot in front of the other. I would have missed a lot of things if I’d decided to stay in bed for a junk day. I’m not saying the desire for a junk day completely left me, but I know I was blessed by the choices I made to put one foot in front of the other. My attitude could have been better, but even when I have a bad attitude, I need to be obedient to God. And through that obedience, I’ll grow toward God through challenges – whether I like it or not.

To truth is, I like growth. I need growth. And since spiritual growth comes through challenges, I also have to admit, I want challenges. I don’t always like them, but I know I need them. I want to be obedient, because I know it’s what will draw me closer to God.

I could rationalize through claiming a junk day. So could you. We deserve or need it. Perhaps. Why not ask God what he thinks? Then be obedient.

Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. Matthew 6:33