Aug. 7, 2025

When Your Day Starts Off Wrong

When your morning starts off wrong, it doesn’t mean the whole day is lost. In this episode, discover how God’s fresh mercy can rewrite even the hardest mornings.

Ever had a morning where everything felt off before you even finished your coffee?

You’re not alone. From oversleeping and rushing to work, to just feeling the weight of grief or dread, some days feel broken from the start.

But what if that rough morning isn’t the end of the story? What if there’s mercy waiting in it?

In this episode, we’ll hear the true story of a Starbucks barista named CeCe and the unexpected gift that turned her hard morning into a moment of grace.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

Why God’s mercy is new every single morning—no matter how yesterday ended
How small kindnesses can have a life-changing ripple effect
One powerful truth that can reset your perspective on bad days

Don’t let a rough start ruin your whole day. Let God’s mercy rewrite your morning.

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Scripture Mentioned in This Episode:

“Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” — Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)

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WEBVTT

00:00:01.923 --> 00:00:06.503
She clocked in before dawn in Little Rock. It was 5 a.

00:00:06.503 --> 00:00:32.253
m., and Starbucks barista Courtney Cece Crawford was barely two sips into her own coffee when a customer shuffled up to the counter, eyes puffy, shoulders slumped, and clearly dreading the day ahead. Cece decided to go the extra mile and offer a double shot of kindness, an extra warm greeting, a genuine smile, and a quick, how's your morning going?

00:00:32.965 --> 00:00:42.750
Nothing dramatic. It was just human warmth. Hours later, her management waved her over and handed her an envelope the traveler left behind.

00:00:47.216 --> 00:01:00.017
Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Leger, pastor for over 40 years, and your guide for these next few minutes of truth and encouragement from God's Word.

00:01:01.192 --> 00:01:19.063
If your morning has gotten off to a rough start, if you're already behind, already irritated, already overwhelmed, what happens next might surprise you, because God's mercy isn't based on how your day begins.

00:01:13.242 --> 00:01:26.284
Listen to what Lamentations 3.23 says. Great is His faithfulness.

00:01:19.063 --> 00:01:30.469
His mercies begin afresh every morning. That verse was written in the middle of devastation.

00:01:30.750 --> 00:01:44.382
Jerusalem was in ruins. The people were grieving, and everything felt lost. Yet, in the middle of all that pain, the prophet Jeremiah pauses to say, God's mercies are still new.

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Today. Right now. You might feel like today is already too far gone, But God doesn't measure your day the way you do. You see the chaos. He sees a clean slate.

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You see the mess. He sees the moment to meet you with grace.

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That's the thing about mercy. It shows up when we least expect it, and when we need it the most.

00:02:12.069 --> 00:03:10.861
Back to CeCe at the Starbucks counter. When she opened the envelope, inside was a handwritten note. And it went like this. You were the first genuine smile I've seen in two days. It went on to say, you brightened my day. And tucked beneath the note, $200 in cash, with instructions to treat yourself to something nice. CeCe burst into tears. What the traveler couldn't have known, was that CeCe was facing her first Mother's Day without her mom, and didn't know how she could afford an urn for her ashes. She was already working two jobs to pay off the debt she'd inherited. That unexpected act of mercy behind the counter, it meant she could bring her mom home. One ordinary mourning.

00:03:04.371 --> 00:03:21.728
Rewritten by one small act of compassion. God's mercies really are new. Even when the sun comes up on a day that feels all wrong.

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Father, thank you for being the kind of God who meets us where we are, not where we should be.

00:03:26.068 --> 00:03:52.090
When our days begin with chaos, please meet us with calm. When our hearts feel heavy, meet us with hope. And when we feel like giving up, remind us your mercy is new right now, in this very moment. In Jesus' name, Amen.

00:03:43.604 --> 00:04:38.927
Now, I have a favor to ask. If you've been receiving value from these devotions, would you please take a little bit of time out of your busy schedule, share a little love by leaving an honest review at dailydevotionsforbusylives.com forward slash reviews, forward slash new. I'll leave a link to it in the show notes. That would make my day. And thanks in advance. And thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. Remember, no matter how your day starts, God's mercy gets the final word. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless and have a great day.

When Your Day Starts Off Wrong

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