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What a difference a day makes! In 1934, Stanley Adams wrote these English lyrics, adapting a Spanish folk song with a similar title. In 1959, Dinah Washington won a Grammy Award for her rendition of his song that is still connected with her closely to this day. The first line of the song has embedded itself culturally as a source of hope ever since … “What a difference a day makes – 24 little hours.” The lyric speaks of optimism as we approach each day simply because, it’s a new day.
This phrase is often connected to mindsets that encourage us to look at each new 24 hour period as one filled with potential. We all desire to leave the mistakes and challenges of preceding days behind us and look forward to better times. And when the situation we are in is draining, especially if it has been so for some time, we pick our heads up and declare, almost defiantly … “what a difference a day can make.”
Similarly, at times we are engaged in a season of struggle and do all we can each day to persevere. Day after day the load can seem endless and heavy. Yet we have a moment or … a day … when things brighten and all seems possible. We experience a new perspective on the struggle and proclaim … “what a difference a day makes.” But in each scenario, are we attributing the “difference” to any new approach or insight to just the passage of time? With this phrase, are we stating that the difference was simply the movement past 11:59 pm, believing that the difference was … the day?
It’s a nice way of thinking! The problem with this philosophy though is that it denies a greater and more empowering truth. Lamentations 3:22-23 teach us that “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (NIV). Here, we are not only given a wonderful picture of how loving our God is, but we are shown the real power we can experience with each new day. We are told that His love, His compassion, His faithfulness … are all new “every morning.”
The difference declared here for each day is not just that the sun will come out. It’s not just that another 24 hour time marker has been reached. But that with each new day, His mercy and grace towards us gains freshness. No matter how yesterday was conducted, with the rising of the sun tomorrow one thing is certain. You will be afforded a new, a never used, fresh measure of love and compassion from above with which to confront each challenge. Those challenges may be new ones or ones you have dealt with for some time. They may be ones you’ve seen coming from a far off or ones that completely take you by surprise. No matter! His love is great and His compassion for you never fails.
So with all due respect to Mr. Adams and Ms. Washington, the difference we each need in our lives is not just the difference of a new day. What we need is to embrace a fresh dose of His great love and to cling to His faithful hand as He guides us through each moment we face. What a difference a day makes? No. More likely, what a difference God can make out of each new day. Now that is something to sing about!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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