27/05/2026
We Cannot Change God’s Decree
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NKJV)
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.”
A prosperous day may be understood as a good day, a fortunate moment, or a time of blessing. In many cultures and traditions around the world, people still believe in certain “lucky days.” For example, there are special days chosen for planting crops, traditional calculations for wedding dates in Javanese culture, or customary calendars used by the Batak Toba people. In Batak tradition, the search for a “good day” is guided by a calendar called Parhalaan, which contains twenty-four divisions of time in a day, thirty names of days in a month, and twelve names of months in a year.
In truth, ancient Hebrew belief did not emphasize the idea of “lucky days.” It is possible that Solomon’s wording in this verse was influenced by surrounding cultures, or perhaps he simply meant “at certain times” rather than referring to specific calendar days. What Israel recognized were holy days and sacred festivals. Likewise, in the Christian faith, every day created by the Lord is good. As the psalmist declares in Psalms 118:24, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Just as Christianity does not teach the existence of special “lucky days,” it also does not recognize fixed “unlucky days.” Yet hardship and misfortune may come at any time. At the end of December last year (2025), several regions in Sumatra were struck by disasters, becoming one of the greatest tragedies of that year. More broadly, difficult days may include suffering, war, distress, sickness, failure, and many other hardships.
When Solomon says that “the day of adversity” is also made by God, we understand this to mean that such things are permitted by God. Even so, in every hardship, God remains with His people. In faith, David declared in Psalms 86:7, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me.”
If today you are facing trouble, hardship, or a heavy burden, look to the Lord and cry out to Him with all your struggles and concerns. He is able to deliver you. Through Asaph, God says in Psalms 50:15, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Amen.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Our Intercessory Prayers
Pray that all church members will hunger for the Word of God and remain steadfast in prayer.
Pray for families and church members who have children or relatives of marriageable age, that God will provide them with godly and suitable life partners.
Pray for the evangelism ministry among the Budong-Budong people, part of the Kaili-Tomini ethnic group in West Sulawesi Province, with a population of around 600 people. May God use His servants to proclaim the message of forgiveness of sins, and may the people receive restoration from the Lord.
Pray for God’s blessing upon the people living around us.
Lord, teach us to pray.
