When We’re Forced to Live One Day At A Time

I woke this morning to my alarm’s melody, and as the waking fog cleared, I found myself excited about the day ahead. Excited about a new day with new opportunities, about what God and I would do together today, and about the day’s itinerary. It was then I remembered the pandemic. Oh, yeah, the pandemic. I had forgotten about it until I began to play out today’s schedule in my mind. Yes! It was the first morning in weeks I woke without the COVID-19 virus being my first thought of the day. How refreshing! I was incredibly grateful for those first few pandemic-free thoughts, but the familiar feelings of concern and apprehension soon replaced them. A long sigh within me followed.

Oh, yeah, the pandemic.

I look forward to the day when we wake up to find this season a distant memory. When thoughts aren’t consumed with concern and apprehension. When we won’t have to wear face coverings and gloves out in public. And when we can go to the grocery store or the doctor’s office a little less afraid.

But, until then, we make the best of it. We live by faith and not by sight. We shine God’s light in this dark world. With His Word to guide us, to encourage us, to give us His hope and strength. We cling to His truth and share it with others. As we live one day at time.

We are forced now, maybe more than ever, to live one day at a time.

This time of distancing and self-isolating has forced me to do lot less planning and a lot more of right-now living. You too? With so much removed from our schedules as we follow the government guidelines, we currently have less in the future to plan. Interestingly, instead of thinking of tomorrow and preparing for that, my thoughts are captured more by today. Of what I’m doing now and my activity in the moment. I’m finding I appreciate the gift of this day a little more than normal, and I am doing my best to make the most of it. I guess I don’t want to waste this time I’m given as I’m distancing here at home.

Is this true of you, too? Are you finding you’re living more in today and less in thinking about tomorrow? Are you able to live one day at a time more now than before this pandemic started?

I also find if I begin to think too much about tomorrow, concerns and apprehension start to creep in because I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I’m not even sure what’s going to take place today! One day at a time can even sometimes feel like too much for me. Sometimes I can only focus on one moment at a time.

But, living one day at a time is actually freeing, isn’t it?

I mean, when we focus on taking care of what we need to today, we aren’t so consumed with what we’ll need to do tomorrow. We’re freed up to appreciate what’s right in front of us. Just today. That’s all we need to focus on. Today. Reminds me a little of what Jesus said in Matthew, chapter 6:

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34 MSG

Another translation says it this way:

So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

Matthew 6:34 TLB

Amen. Live one day at a time. I guess Jesus knows what’s best for us, right?? One day at a time is His best for us. It would be wise if I learn this lesson through this season of my life.

Could we both benefit from this lesson this season?

Sure, there will always be things for which we need to plan or look ahead. For example, I planned ahead for this morning to pick up groceries in the drive up at the grocery store. But, I can live in the moment while I’m doing it. Yes, we might need to plan dinner for our family tonight, tomorrow night, three nights from now when getting groceries. But we can live one moment at a time while we’re doing it.

This also reminds me of a song from long ago, sung by Cristy Lane, with the very title, “One Day at a Time.” You might remember it. If not, click here to enjoy it one more time.

I believe the awareness of living one day at a time is one of the many good things God is bringing from this situation. I pray living this ways becomes my norm. My habit. How I live my life from this season on. I’ll pray for this for you as well, if you’d like. As we appreciate every moment, every second, every bit of today. I’m thankful we can share this moment of today together. God bless you, friend!

Much love,