Mustard on White: When Everything Seems to Go Wrong

Some days, life just feels like one giant mustard stain.

Let me explain.

My daughter and I have a long-running joke—whenever we wear white, somehow, someway, we end up with mustard on it. It doesn’t matter if we haven’t eaten mustard, been around mustard, or even thought about mustard—it just happens.

We laugh about it, but after a while, I started thinking…

Why do we assume the stain is inevitable?

And more importantly, if we assume that about something as small as a shirt, what else in life are we treating the same way?

Because for me, it’s not just about wearing white and getting mustard on it.

It’s about those days where, no matter how much I prepare, everything seems to fall apart.

• I confirm an appointment, but the scheduler still gets it wrong.

• I triple-check that something is done, and somehow, it still isn’t.

• I try to stay ahead of things, but instead, I’m constantly running into delays.

  
  

I don’t walk around expecting things to go wrong—I’m not a pessimist. But sometimes, after enough letdowns in a row, I start thinking, Why even bother?

And that’s where I have to stop myself.

Because letting frustration win is like keeping that mustard stain on my shirt and wearing it around all day. It’s carrying the mess forward, letting it stain my joy, my peace, and my outlook.

But what if I could learn to see those moments differently?

The Challenge of "Why Bother?"

Let’s be honest—when everything keeps going wrong, it’s easy to wonder why we even try.

Why put in the effort if people don’t follow through?Why stay on top of things when they still fall apart?Why keep showing up when the day is just one mess after another?

It’s not negativity—it’s exhaustion.

It’s the weight of feeling like you’re the only one keeping things together, only to have it all unravel despite your best efforts. And if we’re not careful, we start believing that frustration is just the way life is.

We stop expecting good things, we stop looking for solutions, and we start assuming that every time we put on a white shirt, we’re going to get mustard on it.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the enemy wants us to stay in that mindset.

Because when we assume frustration is inevitable, we stop trying.We stop moving forward.We stop believing that God is in control.

And that’s exactly what the enemy wants.

What Does the Bible Say About Days Like This?

James 1:2-4 says:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I don’t know about you, but I don’t exactly feel joy when I’m having one of those days.

But what if the struggle itself—the delays, the miscommunication, the frustration—is actually refining me?

What if, instead of assuming that my day is ruined, I choose to see it as a moment that is shaping me?

Take Joseph, for example. His life was one setback after another:

• His brothers betrayed him.

• He was sold into slavery.

• He was falsely accused and thrown into prison.

If anyone had a reason to say, Why bother?, it was him.

But instead of letting frustration define his story, he remained faithful. And in the end? God placed him in a position of power to save nations.

The enemy wants us to believe that frustration is a sign of failure.

But God says it’s an opportunity for faithfulness.

Changing the Thought Process: When Everything Goes Wrong

So, how do we change our mindset when life keeps handing us mustard stains?

Instead of saying:

• “Why bother?” → Say: “I’ll stay steady because my actions still matter.”

• “No one else cares, so why should I?” → Say: “I work as if for the Lord, not for man.” (Colossians 3:23)

• “This is just how my day is going to be.” → Say: “God is still in control, even when things feel messy.”

I won’t pretend that changing your mindset is easy.

But what I do know is that we don’t have to let frustration dictate the rest of our day. We don’t have to let one setback determine our outlook.

Each moment is a choice.A choice to trust.A choice to endure.A choice to keep going, even when things don’t go as planned.

Finding the Win in the Mess

Even on the worst days, there’s always something good.

• Maybe it’s handling a tough moment with patience instead of frustration.

• Maybe it’s stepping away to pray before reacting.

• Maybe it’s just laughing at the absurdity of it all.

Because here’s the truth—God is still working, even when things go wrong.

Think about Jesus on the cross. Everything had seemingly gone wrong. He was betrayed, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, and crucified. From the outside, it looked like the worst possible outcome.

But in reality? It was the greatest victory in history.

What if our frustrating moments aren’t signs that we’re failing—but reminders that God is still working, even when we can’t see it?

Conclusion: A New Way to See the Mustard Moments

So, what do we do the next time life hands us another mustard stain?

• We stop assuming the stain defines the day.

• We recognize that setbacks don’t mean we’re losing.

• We remember that endurance isn’t about avoiding messes—it’s about trusting God through them.

And if we do get mustard on our white shirts?

Maybe it’s just a reminder that life is messy, but we’re still here. We’re still standing.

And we’re still trusting God—mustard stains and all.

Final Thought: What Will You Choose?

So, let me ask you—next time you face one of those days, what will you choose?

Will you assume it’s just another mess?

Or will you see it as a chance to trust that God is still at work?

Because in the end, the stain doesn’t define you.

God does.