I have had many moments or days that I may classify as the best day of my life. One of those days would have been the day I made high school varsity cheerleader, the day I learned my husband and I were having our first child, and the day I became a mom, and many others. On either of those days, I might have said that this is the “best day of my life”.

The reason those days would be deemed “best days” would be because those days were super special, brought me much joy, exceeding my expectations; but I guarantee that those moments and feelings from those moments are not normally generated in my  everyday life, though I am grateful to God for each day granted to me.

During my Bible reading, I completed the book of Job again. Job was a righteous man, who honored God. Job had a very good life. He enjoyed a large family, wealth, and protection from God. One day though, Job lost it all, and I am convinced that Job would not say that this was the best day of his life. In fact, Job regretted that he had been born.

…Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? Job 2:10b

Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’ Job 3:3

Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. Job 14:1

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are like a shadow. Job 17:7

My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother. 18 Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me. 19 All my intimate friends abhor me, and those who I loved have turned against me. 20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth. 21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O my friends, for the hand of God has touched me! Job 19:17-21

I don’t know whether the “best day of my life” saying is simply a mantra to help one focus on the positive or one to help one create a different reality.  Lead singer of American Authors, Zac Barnett says in describing their song lyrics, Best Day of My Life, by explaining it to help people cope with the negative stuff. He says in an interview with MetroLyrics, “sometimes it’s good to just escape, to somehow get away from that, and create your own best day.”

Ricky Dillard,  a popular gospel artist, has also produced a song of the same title where the soloist begins the song with, “Today will be the best day, the best day of my life”. It goes on to say, I’ll get my joy back and my life back.

Can we really do that, create our own best day or declare what a day will be? I don’t think so. I am pretty certain Job didn’t expect to hear in one day that his ten children were all destroyed in a fire, and that all of his wealth was taken. His response was admirable. In his mourning, he worshiped.

I don’t care how many times I say, “today is the best day of my life”, if  the day comes that I get a diagnosis from my doctor telling me that I have Stage IV cancer, it will not be the best day of my life, or the day comes that I learn that I have lost someone dear to me, it will not be the best day of my life. That will not be my response.

And yet, like Job, just as I receive the many blessings God bestows upon me, I must be prepared to receive the trials that God may bring though they cause sorrow and pain, for I know like another song writer wrote, Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right.

Whate’er my God ordains is right: though now this cup, in drinking, may bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it all, unshrinking.   My God is true; each morn anew sweet comfort shall yet fill my heart, and pain and sorrow shall depart.

This seems to be the attitude possessed by Job, who also states:

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. Job 19:25-27.

Job went through a real time of testing that affected all of his life; so, I don’t believe he would have ever considered the days of his loss as the best days of his life.  In fact, he lamented, and questioned God. He faced his reality.  I recommend reading the whole book. Please note that after all of Job’s loss and pain, God blessed him greater that in the beginning.