Science tells us that there are twenty-four hours in every day. (Actually, I’ve read some articles that suggest a day is actually about four minutes shorter than that, but you get the drift.) Every day is the same length of time. But you don’t have to live this life very long to realize that some days are longer than others. As a kid, I remember that there were some school days that just didn’t end and the days leading up to Christmas were way longer than normal. We all know Mondays are longer than Sundays, the last few days before payday are longer than the first few after it, and the days spent in a hospital waiting room are longer than the ones we spend on vacation.
I don’t care what the clock says. Some days are longer than others.
When we glance at a calendar, we don’t always see those long days marked out in advance. Sure, sometimes we see them coming. We know they’re lurking out there and we’ve circled them in red in our minds. But other times, we get up and get going and then find ourselves in the middle of a day that just won’t end. And sometimes, the day that just won’t end becomes a week…or a month…or a season that just won’t end. How do we get through these days?
I was recently reading the book of Isaiah and this verse caught my attention:
“O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.” (Isaiah 33:2 ESV)
To be honest, one phrase caught my attention. The prophet pleas for God to be “our arm every morning…” His cry reminds us that every day is a day where we need the strength and support of God. Every day brings a new set of challenges. Every morning declares anew our need for God.
We need to understand that only seeking out God in a crisis or on a Sunday here or there won’t cut it. Don’t misunderstand me. We should indeed turn to God in our times of crises and we should gather to worship Him on Sundays, but we need more than just a sporadic connection with Him. We need His power and grace to touch our lives daily. Thus, Isaiah cries out, “be our arm every morning.”
The contemporary singer/song-writer Matt Maher has put a new twist on a familiar hymn of the faith. He writes:
“Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You.”
His words echo the sentiment of Isaiah’s plea. There’s a desperation in these words. A realization that we can’t go on without God. We need Him. Every hour…every morning…every day. Don’t neglect to turn to Him today. Avail yourself of His presence. Rest in the grace and peace He offers. Be strengthened daily by the salvation He provides in times of trouble. Because some days are longer than others.