I know it is a trite expression, but that doesn’t make it any less accurate.

This statement became a regular part of my thinking when I was working with recovery programs. Whenever someone was struggling with their addiction, the response was always, “Take it one day at a time.”

When I first heard it, I thought, “Of course, you are going to take it one day at a time; that is how life comes at you.”  Slowly, I saw the logic behind it. If a person was struggling, the solution was to use all their strength of character to make it through the present day. One day of success would give way to the next and then the next. Soon, you were clean for a month, then six months, and then a year.

The truth is that no matter what your issue is, the logic still works. If you are angry, make it through today without blowing up. If you are sad, make it through today without giving up. If you are hurting, make it through today, even if there is no joy. Whatever difficult situation arises, take it one day at a time.

I hope you have big dreams for your life that will help guide your major decisions. But there will be seasons for all of us when the waters will rise, get muddy, and it will be hard to navigate. On those days, keep throwing your energy into making it through this one day until your situation changes and the future becomes clear again.