Short Stories

One Day At A Time

by Stephen Wong
01/12/23
Not For Sale
Author requests article critique

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Jack stared blankly at the black brick on his desk. In the darkness, he could just make out the white letters on the front that read “Holy Bible.” He muttered to himself as he switched on a nearby lamp. Two weeks had passed and Jack still hadn’t changed the lightbulb. Come to think of it, there were a lot of chores that he hadn’t done for a while.

It had been another tough day. Nothing seemed to bring Jack pleasure anymore. Even his usual morning coffee run had felt like a chore. He pondered over all the mistakes he had made in the office that day. It didn’t matter how hard he tried to do things the right way, he was always getting blamed. It wasn’t his fault that he had brain fog half the time. Even when he was just trying to follow instructions, it always seemed like his manager found some reason to blame him for something that wasn’t completely perfect. You’re a waste of space. You don’t belong there. Why did they even hire you in the first place? Jack tried to shrug off these thoughts. Somehow, they always came in his weakest moments.

Jack looked up at the ticking clock. He had only been sitting in the study for five minutes. It felt like he had been here for an hour. It used to be his favourite room to sit in at the end of the day. He opened the Bible and turned to the bookmarked page. Reading had always been an enjoyable activity, but it was getting harder and harder to do.

 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake…

There was a time when Jack’s heart used to beat with joy, every time he would hear these words being read aloud.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me… 

Jack shut his Bible. It was all that he could take in. It was more than he had read yesterday. He leant back and shut his eyes.

Dear God,

Thank you for being with me and getting me through today. Please give me your grace to get through tomorrow too.

Amen

For a moment, a sense of tranquillity washed through Jack’s body. For a moment, the emptiness that had been constantly gnawing away at him was replaced with the slightest glimmer of hope. Jack knew that this feeling was only temporary, but it would be enough to get him through tonight. He picked up the phone and texted. It was time to reply to the message from two days ago.

Thanks for checking in Dave. I’m going ok. God’s still good.

There were no shortcuts. There would be a long struggle ahead. Jack knew that the empty feeling would hit him again as soon as he woke up tomorrow morning, but it was getting easier for him to get out of bed. The journey ahead seemed daunting, but he had experienced God’s faithfulness in the past. He had helped Jack survive through the last six months. He had helped him survive today. Tomorrow, God would also be there for him. He would never let him go. Jack would keep trusting him, one day at a time.