Have you ever heard the term one of “those” days. It’s usually not used to describe a good day, or a productive day. We usually use this term to describe a day that is less than spectacular. I bring this up because I am having one of “those” days.
I don’t even know exactly what I mean by that. I just know that I feel blah. I don’t feel like preaching. I don’t feel like thinking. I don’t feel like having a conversation with anyone. I don’t feel like playing with my kids. I don’t feel like blogging. I just want to sit here and stare off into space.
What is perplexing to me is I have absolutely no reason to feel like this. I have no circumstantial evidence to back up these feelings. Church was amazing today. Worship was amazing today. Celebrating baptisms was amazing today. Family is great, friends are great, for the most part life is great. So, why do I feel like curling up in a ball and crying? Because I’m having one of “those” days.
I know as a pastor I’m not really supposed to admit all this to you. I know some will think I should have more faith. Some will think this is a sign of weakness. Some will think I just need to choose ‘joy’. And still others will think I should pray more. You’re probably all correct, but I’m still having “one” of those days.
I do take great comfort, even in the middle of this day, that these kind of days are few and far between for me. I take great comfort in the fact that by the time you read this it will be a new day, a different day, it won’t be one of “those” days.
Have you had one of “those” days recently?
without wax,
Pete
Hey Pete, we have all had one of those days…God is using you to do amazing things in Nashville, We are praying for you up here in NY!
I had several of “those” days in a row about a month ago, and like you, I experienced great comfort in knowing that almost all of my my days are wonderful. There’s also a peace that I have when “those” days come around that I didn’t have when I lacked the faith I have now. It’s awesome to know that God loves us even though we’re not perfect, not always rejoicing in His creation and the gift of salvation, and not loving Him back the way we could.
p.s. Church was amazing this morning. Thanks for your hard work and for sharing some of your struggles.
Like you, “those days” come few and far between. God has blessed our families in so many ways. The blessing of doing God’s work is also so amazing.
But sometimes, almost in the same sentence, we can find ourselves in what seems like a “sad” place. It’s somewhat hard to describe, yet you certainly share in symptoms I recognize.
More than anything, I know that “those days” are short-lived. More times than not, “those days” followed a time when I truly had “given it my all” when I didn’t realize I was truly giving my all.
Not sure this all makes sense – other than to say – I’m with ya. I am blessed by your transparency. You are not alone.
… ditto …
the difference is, people like you don’t let ‘feelings’ dictate your ‘faith’ – you press on. 1 Corinthians 9:27 tells us we are to tell our body what to do and not the other way around.
cool.
Pete–I’ve learned so much from you by watching you on your off days. Even when you were having o’ne of those days’ you were influencing my life. Thanks for being transparent about this.
Count on more prayers from the mountains.
My advice: Go get you a $1.99 Meal at Rally’s. It will make you feel sooooo much better.
It’s interesting how everyone I know has been having “one of those days” this past week… Me included… I even wrote a blog about it,
http://uriahministries.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/just-a-quick-note-to-everyone-i-know/
where I talk about how for me it has turned into “one of those weeks”… The important thing I am trying to grasp is that it’s not wrong to have bad days. Depression, even as short as a days worth, is to be expected. We are strangers in a strange land, and the eternal parts of us are homesick. Ill tell you what though, not to offend, but I am happy you had one of those days because it reassures me that I’m not just the wierd one lol!
Praying for you brother. See you in a few weeks.
tim
I had one right along with you. It doesn’t sound very spiritual but I think it’s the weather. Spring is almost here but it’s dingy and gray. Maybe one of the medically trained will blog in and tell us, if that’s possible.
We got out and finished the patio and Cindy planted flowers. It helped.
We love you, Pete.
I think it’s called Pastors’ disease…Know how you feel…We gotta’ hook up some time…
I have had more of “those kind of days” over the past few months than I care to admit.
It’s the kind of thing where you talk to yourself and say “come on, snap out of it!” My wife tries to ask me when she can do but I can’t really come up with a solution for it.
I know that I should go to God with those feelings but sometimes all you want to do is just sit in front of the TV and just veg out.
The most comforting thing is realizing that other people experience the same thing. It’s also good to remember that David, God’s “man after his own heart” guy, spent a lot of the time in the gutter.
I guess we’re in good company.
By the way, I find listening to a the first couple of songs off of this soundtrack seems to help.
Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com
Someone once said, “If you ever preach on the subject of patience, be assured you’ll have your patience tested.” Not necessarly great theology, but there it is. And when I look over the topics you’ll be addressing in this new series – including depression, loneliness, and disappointment, I can’t help but wonder if Someone might be “allowing” you to experience these feelings just to let you taste what others live with.
Gee, doesn’t that make you feel all better? No? Then how about borrowing Lovey from Gage for a couple hours?
By the way, AWESOME service yesterday.
Diane
Mountains would not exist without valleys. And you work so hard to bring so many to the top of the mountain, you have to dip into the valley occasionally yourself.
May be God gives us “those kind of days” so we can truly appreciate all the other really wonderful days we have with Him in our life
well, if you were a girl, and you were telling me that life is GREAT but you wanna curl in a ball & cry, then i’d tell ya to go take a few Midol….
but, alas, you have too much hair on your face for that to do much good.
This is something I think about a lot. For some reason I equate feeling good to being close to God and feeling bad with being separated from God. Not sure why. Nothing scriptural that supports that but that’s how it usually turns out. When I have days like you had I wish I could just rise above and ignore the way I feel and treat it like any other day. The hardest thing for me to remember is that as a believer I’m always in God’s care, grace, and love. Rather than assume I’m doing something wrong (or did something wrong) when I feel ‘blah’, I hope someday I’ll accept that I’m right where God wants me to be and there’s a reason for everything I experience in Him, even when what I’m experiencing is less than joyful.
heck yeah bro, i have some of those days…i’ll tell you last week it seemed like i had one everyday…we are human and struggle with real stuff as well…we aren’t immune to stuff just because we work at a church
P-Squared…..it’s all good! I know EXACTLY what you need…I’ll bring you some on Sunday, OK!! WE LOVE YOU!!
Dude, I have more of those days than I’d like to admit. Thank YOU for admitting it!
J.
You may have been having one of “those” days yesterday, but be assured that your message was still highly effective. I am one of those who tend panic and try to hold tightly to my blessings whenever things don’t go my way. Yesterday, when faced with uncertainty, I found myself asking “Am I going to panic? Or am I going to trust God and continue doing this His way?” He is truly working through you to change the hearts of many, even during one of “those” days.
Yep. Been there. I kinda have a theory and I have no clue whether or not it’s right… Anyhow – here it is. When I have these kinda days… where I can’t put my finger on what’s bothering me… I just tell myself that God is working on my heart. Sometimes, it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes, it makes me grumpy. But, in the end, God is going to make it good. Making myself be positive helps, sometimes… even if I don’t really feel that way.
Yep, I’ve had “those” days as well. It is called having the case of the “mondays”.
I bet you would feel like wrestling an 18″ brown on the Caney! That is, of course, if they would stop generating for a day…Darn, just darn, now I am having one of “those” days. IB
I know your pain… hang in there. God is using you greatly in Nashville, but also in Auburn, AL as you encourage and challenge me. I’d love to get together again… that will give me a great excuse to come to Nashville!
Yep! I have “those” days.
I think you summed it up well, ‘blah’
Its so hard to describe it with words.
I’ve had one of those weekends and it has now run over into the new week. I agree completely with Bill Renfrow in saying that I equate feeling good with God and bad with no God. I am not sure there is theology to back that up though. As Brad R. said, The sun’ll come out tomorrow! Annieology.
Pastor Pete,
For having an “off day”, you sure gave a great message. My dad and stepmom were in Nashville this weekend, visiting from Seattle. My stepmom just found out she can never have children, and she’s been crushed to say the least. Your message was so timely for them. They went on and on about how encouraged they were by Sunday’s service. Thanks for giving it your all – even when having an “off day”. Seriously, thanks from the bottom of my heart.
Man, you’re awesome. Thank you for being so honest. I totally know how you feel. In fact, I felt like that all last week. I attributed it to post-Easter letdown, but I really don’t know what the deal is. I’m just trying to spend more time in the Word and journal my prayers…so we shall see. Sometimes I make a list of all the good things the Lord has done in my life lately to remind me to get over myself…and I pray that God will put a fire in my heart and renew my passions. I’ll pray the same for you.
B–Balance
L–Lighten
A–Artistry
H–Hope
FINALLY! a pastor who is not afraid to be transparent. No wonder God is using you and doing something in your ministry. Good stuff my friend.
Yeah Pete, I go through the same thing often. Ministry is tough and sometimes I just think what if I didn’t have all this stuff to do. It would be less stress in my life. But then the day passes and I realize, I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else!
You guys are the best! I was right. Today was not one of “those” days. However, today I feel that much closer to God because of yesterday. I love the authentic community God is creating here at “without wax”.
I had one of those days yesterday too. I made brownies for my Bible study so that I could lick the bowl. My husband came into the kitchen as I was licking the bowl last night and asked if I was OK. I said I am fine now that I am licking the bowl. It was jsut one of those days. I understand completely.
You think it could have anything to do with the accidental consumption of Tylenol PM? That always makes me feel blah! All kidding aside, thank you for admitting what most all of us feel at least once in a while. I say, just ride it out and wallow in it ’til you feel better. (By the way, the dreary, rainy days do make it worse. SAD ) Thanks for your message on Sunday. It convicted me in so many ways.
If you only knew! We all know that feeling and sometimes just can’t fight those days. It is like the zoloft blob takes over who we are and we have a rain cloud over us that won’t let up. You are right, we can’t pin point why we want to let our minds sit on auto pilot. All we can do is wait for it to pass.
Thanks for being honest. I hope tomorrow is “One of those days” where you are not ready for it to end.