Good And Bad Times

Good And Bad Times

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.

Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

Ecclesiastes 7:14

When you are given a good day, here’s what you should do: be happy. In other words, enjoy the present. Forget your troubles. Lay your plans aside. But keep your emotions in check. Let your wisdom come from God. Commit to him both your past and your future.

So be happy in the present, but do so in a way that you don’t forget about the bad times. In other words, you should be ready for times of sorrow. Enjoy the present, but don’t start thinking that life will always stay that way. Beware of becoming overconfident. Don’t look forward exclusively to good things. You also need to be prepared for bad times. Always try to remain even-tempered and open to whatever happens. In contrast, foolish people cling to the joys of the moment. They become completely absorbed in them as if these good times were going to last forever. Then God uses bad times to remove their improper attitudes and arrogance.

So you should be happy in such a way that you don’t immerse yourself in the present. You should always keep a part of your heart reserved for God, for he is the one who will help you get through the bad times. Then, when trouble comes, you will be less bothered, because you will have anticipated it.