"It's a soft day." - Renaming Our Circumstances with God's Words

“Ta’ se’ in aghaidh an lae cumhachtach!!”

(Gaelic for, “It’s a powerful day!!!”)

“Ta’ se’ in aghaidh an lae bog.”

(Gaelic for, “It’s a soft day.”)

      When I was in Ireland this summer…they called sunny days “powerful days”!!!  Rainy days were called “saft days”!!!  (Or “soft days”.)  I fell in love with the ever-sunny perspective of the Irish.  (Insert romantic sigh here.)  Since they have so many wet and gray days, they invented a new name or outlook for a rainy day.  This is to show that no matter the circumstances of the day, their outlook would remain undaunted and joy filled.  A local Irishman explained to me that many times when it is dreary and drizzly, it can feel like you can’t plan or begin anything.  One may feel compelled to wait until the conditions improve to go out and enjoy life. This could go on for days and days there. If they decided to wait for more perfect weather, it could be a “verra” long time waiting!  Since they can’t change the weather, they change their minds by renaming those moments, to embrace the gentleness, slowing, and even the romance of  rainy days.  Living right where they are; fully.   

     I live in Phoenix, AZ where it is sunny most of the year.  So while I do not experience Ireland’s particular weather issues, there are still days or seasons in my life that it is raining and storming in my corner of the world.  Can you relate?  When we are experiencing less than desirable circumstances in our lives, we have a choice to make.  We must ask ourselves if we are going to look at the day and call it a “wet, dreary, miserable, rainy day’?  OR adopt the attitude of the Irish, and rename the day a “soft day” and embrace all we can in our circumstances…finding the JOY right where we are…living FULLY in the middle of the showers of our life. 

     Words are powerful and God offers us an entire book full of words to renew our mind. Words to write on our hearts.  Words to speak out loud against Satan.  What circumstances are “raining” down on you?  What could you rename moments or days like these?  

Is there a scripture that could help you rename the day? 

One you could tuck into your heart?  

Or a verse to speak out loud against the devil himself? 

Maybe a verse you could frame and put up in your home or office?  

Thoughts to encourage:

‘Happiness depends on the “happenings in our lives;” joy depends on our perspective.’

Verses to encourage finding joy:

James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-9, John 15:11, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Hebrews 12:2,

Verses to encourage finding a new perspective for our thought life:

Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Psalm 119:11, Ephesians 4:23, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Colossians 3:2, Jeremiah 29:11