Have You Ever Had
a Bad Day?
Bad days may find us, but they do not get the final word. Yahweh strengthens us to keep moving forward.
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
PSALM 118:24
This Sabbath, approximately 28 people gathered at Body of Christ Fellowship at Vaughn’s Chapel. From the morning Bible study to Greg Archer’s message and the children’s lesson, one truth kept returning: difficult moments do not have to define our response. We can examine ourselves with mercy, honor our promises, pray through hardship, and keep walking forward with Yahweh.
🎶 Songs to the Creator
Worship Leader: Amanda Caldwell
Opening Prayer: Gary Hall • Closing Prayer: Sarah Mounts
Harmony of the Gospels, Part 19
The morning group continued through the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matthew 7:1–6 and its parallel in Luke 6:37–42. The familiar instruction, “Judge not,” was considered alongside four important words:
To evaluate, examine, or render a verdict based on evidence.
To declare someone guilty and deserving of punishment.
To forgive and release someone from a deserved penalty.
To extend mercy rather than holding an offense over another.
Jesus was not teaching careless indifference toward right and wrong. He warned against a harsh, hypocritical spirit that eagerly measures another person while ignoring the “beam” in one’s own eye. Before correcting someone else, believers must first allow Yahweh to examine their own hearts.
Romans 8:1 reminds us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, while Ephesians 2:8–9 reminds us that salvation is a gift of grace—not something earned through our own works. Because we have received mercy, we should be people who extend mercy.
Before we focus on the speck in another person’s eye, we must be willing to let Yahweh search our own hearts.
Have You Ever Had a Bad Day?
Greg began with two affirmations that help him start the day from a positive—not negative or even neutral—place:
This is the day Yahweh has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Through Christ, we can face what is placed before us.
With a little humor, Greg told the story of an 83-year-old man moving slowly through a drive-through while an impatient woman behind him leaned on her horn. The man paid for her order, which caused her to wave gratefully—then, at the second window, he showed both receipts and took her lunch too! The lesson came with a laugh: be careful honking at older people; they have been around long enough to know a few things.
Under the humor was a serious question: Why was the woman so impatient? We did not know her story. We only knew she appeared to be having a bad day. Greg asked everyone to picture a morning when the alarm fails, the car battery is dead, lunch spills, a pothole jars the vehicle, muddy water splashes our clothes, and we arrive late to an angry boss. What comes out of us when everything seems to go wrong?
Guarding Our Joy
As the fall Holy Days approach—Trumpets, Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles—we are reminded of Yahweh’s plan and the coming reign of Christ. These seasons bring joy, but Greg has observed that trials often intensify before meaningful spiritual moments such as the Feast or baptism. The adversary would like to steal our joy through a bad day, a bad season, or even a bad year. That is why we must remain alert, prayerful, and careful about how we respond.
Yahweh remembered Rachel, and He remembers us. He loves us. When circumstances feel personal and overwhelming, we should remember that we are not the first people of faith to endure a difficult day.
Faithful People Had Bad Days Too
Paul knew hardship. In 2 Corinthians 11:5–33, he described suffering, danger, weakness, and sacrifice for Christ. Yet Romans 5:3–4 teaches that tribulation produces perseverance, character, and hope. Greg compared spiritual trials to lifting weights: resistance develops strength. Yahweh can use pressure to prepare us to stand firm.
Joseph had a remarkable gift, but his path was complicated and painful. Like every person used by Yahweh, he had human shortcomings, yet Yahweh still saw him, loved him, and worked through his life.
Moses left Pharaoh’s household to follow Yahweh’s calling and then faced one difficult day after another. In Exodus 14, the Israelites had left Egypt boldly, but fear returned when Pharaoh’s chariots appeared. They did one thing right: they cried out to Yahweh. Then they began complaining that slavery would have been better.
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.”
EXODUS 14:13
Egypt can picture sin, while the pursuing Egyptians can remind us of problems that seem determined to follow us. Yet Yahweh’s direction to Israel was clear: go forward. The answer was not to return to bondage or remain frozen beside the sea. It was to trust Yahweh and move through the path He opened.
Greg also encouraged everyone to revisit Elijah’s story in 1 Kings. Scripture never hides the humanity of the people Yahweh used. They became weary, afraid, discouraged, and imperfect—just like us. We can do the right thing and still encounter trouble. As Matthew 13:24–25 shows, an enemy can sow weeds even after good seed has been planted.
Strength for the Way Through
The answer is not pretending the bad day never happened. It is turning to Scripture, remembering the source of our strength, and continuing onward. Joshua 1:6–9 repeatedly calls Yahweh’s people to be strong and courageous. 1 Chronicles 28, Psalm 29:11, and 2 Samuel 22:40 point back to the One who supplies that strength.
The key word is through. Psalm 23 does not say we build a home in the valley; it says we walk through it. The difficult day is part of the road, not our permanent address. And 1 Peter 5:10 promises that after we have suffered a little while, Yahweh will restore, strengthen, and establish us.
You are not here by chance or happenstance.
Yahweh called you. A bad day may test you, but it cannot cancel His purpose for you.
💍 Honor Your Marital Vows
The children continued learning the commandments with a lesson connected to the seventh commandment. Rather than stopping at a list of “don’ts,” the lesson focused on the positive calling to honor marital vows.
Using Proverbs 12:22—“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight”—the class learned that people who are trustworthy keep their word. Marriage promises are meant to be treated with truthfulness, faithfulness, love, and respect.
Simple truth for every age: Yahweh delights in people who tell the truth, remain faithful, and honor the promises they make.
🙏 Our Prayer Wall
Please carry these needs with you throughout the week. Even a brief, sincere prayer helps surround our church family and fellow believers with love.
Protection, courage, and deliverance as local opposition and authorities are being organized against their ministry. Pray especially for Prasad’s healing and safety.
Continued prayer for the needs before her and for Yahweh’s strength and peace.
Prayer for the concerns and appointments they are facing in the coming week.
Provision, dependable transportation, wisdom, and relief from unexpected expenses.
Safe travel, good timing, protection on the road, and a peaceful return home.
For every burden too private, painful, or difficult to put into words. Yahweh knows each need.
Father, give Your people open hearts, open doors, protection in persecution, and the courage to move forward when the day is hard.
🌤 Praises
- Believers with open hearts and open doors.
- The hope that Jesus is coming again.
- Yahweh’s provision in travel and practical needs.
- A welcome break in the weather.
- Answered prayers and reminders that Yahweh sees us.
📣 Announcements
- Church cleanup: Cleanup work will continue this week.
- Lost-and-found: Please check for personal belongings and take your items home.
- Holy Days: Continue preparing prayerfully for Trumpets, Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
- Continue lifting our brothers and sisters in India in prayer.
Don’t Settle Down in a Bad Day
Pause before reacting. Pray before speaking. Remember that you may not know what another person is carrying. Ask Yahweh for strength, then take the next faithful step forward.
“But the God of all grace…after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
1 PETER 5:10
May Yahweh bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
Happy Sabbath!
BODY OF CHRIST FELLOWSHIP AT VAUGHN’S CHAPEL • CALVERT CITY, KENTUCKY
The Body of Christ Fellowship At Vaughn's Chapel 
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