by Rebecca Murzin
How often do you tell someone to “have a good day” and what do you mean when you say it? I personally say it all the time. The other week on Sunday after service I said to someone “have a great week.” Pastor Sam was standing by and asked what I meant by that. I believe he was pointing out that we often say things out of tradition and don’t really think about the meaning behind our words, like when we call the building the church, when really we the body of believers gathering together are the church. I love that he pointed that out. It made me think. I responded to him, “It wasn’t based on circumstances, or what happens to them or in their life.”
I could not stop thinking about his question. I believe in being polite and telling some one to have a “great week” or a “good day” is good manners. I also consider it another way of saying, “I care about you and how your life goes”. However, the truth is we often say “have a good day” out of habit. I am not saying that we don’t really want people to have a good day, or a great week. I think we just don’t consider about what that looks like or means. Do we mean that we hope all of their circumstances are pain free? Do we mean that we hope nothing bad happens to them? Do we mean that we hope they stay healthy or are blessed?
When I tell someone to “have a good day”, I am hoping that they spend time with the Lord and take opportunities to share about Jesus with others and make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). I hope that they have spiritual conversations with others. I hope they hear God’s voice and follow Him (John 10:27). I hope the joy of the Lord is their strength (Nehemiah 8:10). I hope they are anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6). I hope they remain hopeful and are full of joy despite their circumstances (Phil.4:4). I am hoping they are not double minded and stand firm in faith (James 1:5-8). In my opinion these are the things that make for a good day, or a great week.
However I also tell non believers to “have a good day”, so what do I mean when I say it to them? Well obviously, I hope that they find Jesus. But what do they think I mean, and do they know what I mean when I tell them to have a good day or a great week? Do they think I am just saying that I hope their day goes smoothly or that nothing bad happens? Should I even say to “have a good day” as it implies that they have control over how their day or week goes? Truthfully we cannot control everything that happens. The point is, when telling someone to have a good day or a great week it can mean different things depending on who we are saying it to. What about you? It is definitely something to consider. It caused me to consider that maybe I should say what I really mean instead of just saying “have a good day”.
Then I began to reflect, “Does it even matter what I think? What does God have to say about our “good”? Romans 8:28 came to mind. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” It does not matter at all what a good day looks like to me or what I mean by it because as believers no matter what, we will have a good day whether we acknowledge it or not. We serve a good God. Our Heavenly Father, our Savior, our King, our Guide, our Counselor, our Healer, and our Provider, He alone makes all things work together for good. No matter what we do or what happens to us, He is working it all together for good. He always desires our good. He knows what is good for us. He knows what we need. He knows what will make us grow. Nothing is impossible for Him. He can do anything. So brother or sister in Christ, you who love God and are called according to His purpose, have a good day! I know you will because God says so. I hope you believe it and acknowledge it and take time to thank our Lord for it!
