One Day at A Time

One Day at a Time
The first time I heard the phrase “One day at a time” was 36 years ago in a 12-step program while struggling to stay clean and sober.
At that time, I had no idea how to live even one day without depending on something to numb the chaos in my mind and quiet the swirl of emotions.
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One day at a time.
That phrase became a constant replay in my thoughts, along with part of the Serenity Prayer:
“Help me accept the things I cannot change…”
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Mentors would say things like:
“Take it one day at a time.”
“God will only give you what you can handle today.”
And honestly?
I thought they were crazy.
How could repeating a phrase help me not want the next drink or drug?
But day after day, something began to happen.
I made it through one more day.
Then another.
And another.
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Most recently, those same phrases have been circling through my mind again—almost as much as they did all those years ago.
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One day at a time…
Accept the things you cannot change…
God will only give you what you can handle today…
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That last one has become deeply real to me.
Because through all these years of walking with God, I can honestly say:
He has never left me with more than I could handle with His help.
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My mind says:
“I can’t.”
God says:
“You can.”
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Life has a way of throwing curve balls that can trip us up or knock us flat on our faces.
But God…
He is always there.
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He goes before me.
He stands behind me.
He walks beside me.
And He holds my right hand.
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So why have these phrases been repeating in my mind again lately?
Because life gets full.
Not bad necessarily…
Just full.
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There are blessings, responsibilities, interruptions, heartbreaks, and unexpected situations that can quickly become overwhelming when we stare at all of them at once.
You probably know exactly what I mean.
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An exciting celebration is planned… and then a family member has a heart attack.
You’re cleaning the house… and your daughter calls from the emergency room.
Your farmer son sends a picture showing freshly planted seed laying on top of the ground after a historical windstorm.
A coffee date gets canceled.
Plans change.
Emotions rise.
Life happens.
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Life is life.
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So we make plans:
• Plan A
• Plan B
• Maybe even Plan C and D
And then we take a deep breath, look up, and say:
“God.”
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And He is there.
Every single time.
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He helps us take:
• one step at a time
• one moment at a time
• one day at a time
And He never leaves us.
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Does life get scary?
Yes.
Does anxiety try to steal our peace?
Absolutely.
Does the chaos completely stop?
No.
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But does God ever leave our side?
Never.
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So today, let this be your reminder:
You can do today.
Not next month.
Not next year.
Not every possible future problem.
Just today.
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With God’s help…
You can keep going.
One day at a time.
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Prayer
Father God, sometimes the swirl of thoughts, fear, and anxiety feels overwhelming. In those moments, remind us that we do not have to carry tomorrow today. Help us trust that you will make a way, even when life feels uncertain. Thank you for walking beside us, strengthening us, and giving us peace for this day. Help us keep moving forward—one step and one day at a time. Amen.
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If you’re walking through a difficult season and need encouragement to keep trusting God one day at a time, I invite you to explore the books and resources created to walk alongside you in real-life struggles and faith-filled living.
👉 Explore books and resources to strengthen your faith and encourage your daily walk with God:
www.suelhamilton.com