Easter – The Will to Wake Up

Our Hope is Found in Jesus

Jesus offers us new life and will one day come again to restore all things.

Happy Easter, friends! He is risen!

As we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and miraculous resurrection from the grave, there are many parallels to when Jesus comes again.

But first, let’s take a look-back at the Easter story.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”

⁸Then they remembered his words.

⁹When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

¹¹But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

¹²Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Luke 24:2-12 (NIV)

The women expected to find Jesus’ body, but instead, they were met with an empty tomb and two angelic guards who delivered a shocking message.

This shouldn’t have been an unfamiliar message to them. After all, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection many times during His earthly ministry. And in the Old Testament, the prophets foretold all of this as well.

But imagine being these women. They saw Jesus die on the cross and all hope was lost. It seemed like the world couldn’t get any darker. While they might’ve vaguely remembered Jesus’ words, it seemed too late for redemption.

They had to face the facts. Jesus was dead. They just had to press forward and honor His legacy with what they had.

But they forgot the truth. Jesus is more powerful than any darkness we face on earth. He promised to conquer death, rise again, and offer new life to all who believe, and so He did.

Right now, the world feels darker and more broken than ever. We’ve been waiting for more than three days for Jesus to return and restore the world. Sometimes, it may feel like He won’t ever return. It may even seem like darkness and evil has won.

But if we let our present circumstances destroy our hope, then we’ve also forgotten the truth.

The truth proclaimed throughout the entire Bible, reminding us that this world is not our home. And one day, Jesus will return and offer everlasting life for those who hold true to His word and remain faithful.

We are not too late for redemption. Jesus will come again. His love and power will never fail, so even while the world crumbles around us, we can still have hope.

Friend, don’t let your present circumstances destroy your hope. Let’s place our hope in Jesus, who never changes, and will one day bring us home to be with Him forever.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)

The Empty Tomb

When we place our hope in Jesus, no matter the unknowns ahead, we can have joy.

Peter and the disciples believed they had lost their Lord forever. But then a miracle happened…

Today’s Scripture:

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

-John 20:1-9 (NIV)

The rush of emotions these disciples must have felt! First panic that someone had stolen Jesus’ body. Then adrenaline as they (raced!?) to the tomb. (Side note: I love how John emphasizes twice that he’s faster than Peter). Perhaps as they searched the tomb, they felt a wave of relief mixed with shock as they remembered Jesus’ words: He would rise again.

And yet, it’s important to note that they still didn’t quite understand the significance of this moment or fully recognize what Jesus had done–defeated death. But even with questions, even without seeing Jesus in the flesh yet, they could have hope and joy.

As we wait for Jesus’ second coming, it’s next to impossible to fathom all His plans and purposes, especially in our broken world. But we can still have hope because we know Jesus, just as the disciples did. We have a relationship with Him, even though we can’t see Him sitting here beside us now.

When we remember who Jesus is–our loving Savior–we are offered the gift of joy and rest in Him.

Reflection Questions:

Think of a time when you were provided assurance during a trial because of your hope in the Lord. Exercising joy, rest, and hope are actually acts of faith. We’re living out the belief that Jesus is in control and has good plans for us despite our circumstances.
What questions do you have for God?
How might you act in faith today?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for sending Jesus to die for our sins. We praise you because you have conquered death and offer us new life in You. Help us to live out our faith and always hold onto our hope in You.

Amen.

When the Rooster Crows

Peter denied Jesus 3 times, symbolizing a complete rejection of Him. Yet Jesus has the power to transform our hearts, allowing Peter–and us–the chance to repent.

In yesterday’s devotional, Peter boldly declared that he was willing to die for his faith in Jesus, yet he couldn’t stay awake to pray with Jesus in the garden and joined the others in fleeing when He was arrested.

While these actions reveal Peter’s goal of self-preservation, Jesus also prophesied that Peter would verbally disown Him three times.

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back and spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

It was cold, and the servants and the officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

-John 18:15-18 (NIV)

Then [Peter] began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:74-75 (NIV)

Peter was so close. He went farther than most of the other disciples by trailing after Jesus to see where the guards were taking Him. But while John (“the other disciple”) used his connections to be as near to Jesus as possible, and offered a way for Peter to join too, Peter chose comfort and security over speaking in faith.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

-John 18:25-27 (NIV)

The number 3 symbolized completeness in those times. By Peter denying Jesus three times, he wasn’t just repeating himself to get his point across. He was solidifying his rejection of Jesus.

However, it’s no coincidence that Jesus’ resurrection took place in 3 days, showing that true completeness comes from Jesus alone. While we are dead in our sin when we reject God, Jesus has the power to transform our hearts and grant us new life in Him.

Reflection Questions:

Think back to a time when you hid your faith in order to preserve your reputation, relationships, comfort, or even safety.
What is something God might be calling you to do that’s outside your comfort zone?
How might relying on courage from the Lord strengthen your faith or deepen your relationship with Him?
How do you hope to see your faith grow this year?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the gift of your forgiveness, even when we have rejected you in the past–and may again in the future. We believe in you, but there are times when we struggle with doubt. Help us in our unbelief so that we can fully trust in You. We love you.

Amen.

Honoring Easter Every Day

Practical ways you can cling onto the gift of Easter even after the holiday has passed.

Easter is a unique holiday because its lead-up is often difficult. Whether we’re abstaining from a specific pleasure or bad habit for Lent or participating in church services that remind us of the suffering Jesus experienced, our excitement is saved for Easter morning.

Do you still find yourself experiencing post-holiday blues? It’s a strange phenomenon when the meaning of Easter is meant to be carried with us each and every day. I’ve found myself frustrated time and again when my awe and gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice becomes muddled throughout the year.

How can we best honor Jesus’ death and resurrection when the Easter service concludes and loved ones head home?

Besides being intentional about spending time with Jesus each day and embracing others with His love, here are a few more specific ideas for honoring Easter after the festivities are over.

Read Through One Gospel Each Season

There are four gospels and four seasons — how convenient! You can certainly choose the order in which you want to read them, but one example is reading John in the winter, Matthew in the spring, Mark in the summer, and Luke in the fall. This keeps Jesus’ ministry, teachings, and sacrifice present in your mind throughout the whole year, not just during the holidays.

Keep a Gratitude Log

You could get really creative with this. Consider decorating a jar, journal, or box and writing something specific you are grateful for every day to put inside. Constantly in the Bible, we are commanded to remember all God has done for us. This is one of the many wonderful ways to praise Him!

Memorize an Easter Verse

To be honest, I’m not the best at Bible memorization, but there is something beautiful and authentic about learning a verse word-for-word to recall when times are tough and we need to be reminded of Jesus’ promises. Here are a few suggestions of verses to memorize, though you should choose a verse that particularly resonates with you!

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’” (Matthew 28:5-6)
“‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:24)

Volunteer for Those in Need

The love we receive from Jesus is meant to be shared. Serving others, whether through church, a humanitarian organization, or in organic relationships, brings such joy to not only us, but Jesus. Needs can vary, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. Don’t discount someone God is calling you to serve just because they don’t fit your perception of being “in need”. Whoever you are helping, if you do with the love of Christ, your gifts and time will not be wasted.

Acknowledge Jesus’ Gift of Life in Prayer

Do you have a typical format in which you pray? Regardless of how structured or unstructured your prayer time usually is, consider being intentional to thank Jesus for saving you and offering you a life with Him. We often get caught up in asking Jesus to bless others or meet our needs, which is important. But we will experience greater peace when we remember that He’s already met our greatest need with His love.

I hope this Easter is particularly meaningful for you! Remember, Jesus loves you so much and He is ready to walk alongside you as you grow to trust in Him.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
John 20:19-21

When Jesus Knocks

Does fear cause you to keep Jesus at a distance?

On the morning of the most amazing day in history, eleven men were huddled in a room, terrified for their lives. These men were fishers, tax collectors, zealots, and followers of Jesus. Very notable followers, in fact, for being the original remaining disciples.

Yet a knock at the door sent the disciples running under tables, terrified for their lives.

Okay, we don’t actually know if Jesus knocked. Or if they were really under tables. But given that they had been hiding since Jesus was crucified? I wouldn’t be surprised…

Of course, they didn’t know it was Jesus who was waiting for them on the other side of the door that day. They likely thought it was Roman soldiers who came to arrest them. Or maybe they had heard from Mary that Jesus was alive and they were scared about seeing Him again.

For Peter, he might’ve felt shame at the sight of his Lord after denying Him three times. For Thomas, it might’ve felt safer to not get his hopes up. For others, it might’ve seemed too great a miracle to be true. And perhaps they were worried that Jesus would judge them for being scared?

Just think–fear kept them from letting Jesus in. And arguably very solid fears for their lives. But when they allowed fear to dictate their actions, they weren’t open to the possibility of a miracle.

Thankfully, no wall or door or any sort of barrier–even fear–will keep Jesus out. He appeared to them, showed them His hands and feet, and gently reminded them to have faith. He reminded them that He would always love them and have the power over death.

What areas of your life are you allowing fear to dictate your actions and thoughts? When you allow fear to be in control, you put Jesus in the backseat of the mission. But Jesus is the only one who knows what He’s doing and has complete control. In any car chase, I would gladly have someone like James Bond take the wheel rather than me–someone who knows what they are doing and can remain calm in the situation. But of course we don’t have our own personally trained body guards–we have someone better. Jesus, thankfully, is able to be everywhere at once and advocate for all our needs.

Today, ask Jesus to open your eyes to the areas in your life where you need to be honest with Him. Ask Him to intercede for you and help you trust that He knows where He’s leading you and He won’t let you go. Nothing can stop the power of Jesus’ love in your life–not even fear.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 20:19-20

Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 7:25

Faithful God

How have you experienced God’s faithfulness this Lenten season?

“I will sing through ﬁre and thunder
‘Cause You are on my side, I trust You with my life
I know my story, it isn’t over” (I AM THEY, “Faithful God”)

How are these lyrics speaking to your heart today?

During this Lenten season, I’ve been trying to grow in my trust in God. I’ve been making some decisions about my future and working towards handing my life to God. Though the hardest time I’ve had recently with trusting God happened during my trip to Hong Kong two weeks ago.

I was going to visit aging family members who do not know God and who have very little time left on earth. After years apart, I was finally going to be with them and hopefully show them God’s love.

But when plans fell apart and it felt like prayers weren’t being answered, I was very upset at God.

After a few days, as my agenda was altered, I was able to make it home, and I recovered from an exhausting trip, I realized that this was the ultimate test of trust in God. Not a test as in God waiting for me to fail or trying to rate my faith. I don’t believe God works like that.

No, more of a personal growth opportunity for me, if I let it be. Would I trust God even when it felt like the opposite of my prayers were happening?

To be honest, I didn’t trust God right away. But as my heart softened and my eyes were opened to the mysterious ways He as working, I realized that I could see God more clearly because of the difficulties that arose.

I contracted COVID during my trip, yet no one else caught it, including my high-risk grandparents. I was able to fly home, though if I had flown two weeks earlier, I would not have been able to make it back into my home country until getting a negative test. I was given the gift of rest when I returned home. A very valuable gift indeed.

So many little things worked together, though the greatest thing was being vulnerable with God. I expressed anger, fear, and deep grief to Him during this experience. While those feelings are uncomfortable and unpleasant, the more times we allow ourselves to feel those things and share them with God, the closer we will be to Him.

How do we know that we can trust God?

Well, Easter is a great start. The disciples likely didn’t understand God’s plan or why Jesus had to die or if He would even rise again. Though Jesus continued to promise that He would return and that He has power over everything–even death–they still didn’t quite “get it” until it all unfolded before them.

Jesus doesn’t condemn us for not understanding–after all, only He can fully understand everything. I’m so thankful that we have such a patient God who will gently guide us and help us grow in our trust in Him.

As we head into Good Friday and Easter, reflect on these questions:

What has God been teaching you this Lenten season?
How have you been challenged during this time?
Good Friday is a time to sit in hard, sorrowful feelings, but also appreciate Jesus’ love for us. How can you show up vulnerably as you remember Jesus’ sacrifice for you?

I hope and pray you can truly feel God’s love for you during this time and beyond.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:14

When You Don’t Understand

Encouragement for when life doesn’t make sense.

Life often curves into patterns that confuse our minds and trouble our hearts.

This most recently happened to me while traveling abroad to visit family. I hadn’t seen these close family members in six years, and I already knew going into the trip that it would be an emotional experience, potentially even saying goodbye to my grandpa. There were many bumps along the journey, but joy and light still pulled through.

Then, about half-way through the trip, I got really sick. Shortly after, I discovered I had COVID, which meant I couldn’t spend time with my grandparents, the ones I had waited so long to see.

Needless to say, I was confused and devastated. I was also really angry. I knew God didn’t “inflict me” with this virus. There were many various avenues where I likely caught it; that’s just a part of traveling now. But I had been waiting for so many things in my life, and it just felt like another disappointment. Shouldn’t we be rewarded for waiting and trusting in God?

In the end, I’m still not sure why I had to get sick, though everything is in God’s hands. He knows why. But over time, I was able to express my difficult emotions to God, and He allowed me to find some creative ways to safely see my family before I left. As I gave up my anger, sadness, and dashed hopes to God, I began to see how He was teaching me to trust Him through providing a way home, keeping others safe, and allowing me the chance to rest.

As we head into Holy Week, I am continually reminded of how little the disciples understood about Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus kept saying to them that they wouldn’t understand yet, but they would later. I wonder if those words were comforting to them.

Honestly, sometimes those words are not comforting to me. I want to scream, “Well, that doesn’t help me now, does it?”. But to God, it’s all happening at once. Each second is still and precious, yet wrapped up into eternity for Him. We may feel like we are waiting forever, but in the end, it will be but a blink in time.

You may be experiencing a confusing situation right now. You might be questioning God’s hand in all of it, wondering why He would allow such a thing to happen. Are you worried that patience didn’t pay off? That you misplaced your trust in God?

I urge you not to give up on God. Things may feel like they are falling apart right now, but as Easter shows us, God has something even greater in mind.

It doesn’t mean that you should just slap on a smile and pretend like everything is okay, either. God desires for you to be open and vulnerable with Him about all your feelings. Sometimes hard situations occur because they create in us a softer heart that paves the way toward becoming more vulnerable with God.

This Easter season, remember how much God loves you. No matter what, even when confusing situations arise, He understands what you are going through and wants you to turn to Him, even if you are still working on trusting Him fully.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
John 13:6-8

Holding Onto Hope

Don’t let anyone steal the hope you have in Jesus.

Have you ever been overwhelmed with disappointment and discouragement, maybe even to the point of despair?

The closest I’ve come to despair was last summer. It felt like one disappointment after another kept hitting me on the head. The final straw was losing a close friend over a petty argument and regretting everything. But it was too late. Nothing I could do would solve this catastrophe.

Disappointment is often tied to two things: our inadequacies and lack of control.

When we fixate on what we can’t do, we are left feeling helpless and afraid. Afraid because we are faced with the sharp reality that we can’t dodge pain. We will never be unbreakable. We are, in fact, fallible.

And when we realize we aren’t perfect, we must admit that even if we were in control, things wouldn’t work out the way they were meant to. We weren’t created to be in control. Now that’s a hard pill to swallow.

I bet Jesus’ followers were in despair when they saw Him on the cross. They had faced constant persecution from an oppressive government, but they finally found a Savior. They finally had hope.

Disappointment requires a dashing of hope. That glimmer of light fading into nothingness.

And then, to see their only hope dying a humiliating death…reminding them that we are all breakable…well, that would just feel like the end, wouldn’t it?

But Jesus isn’t fallible. Jesus is perfect. Whole. In control.

And that’s why, three days later, their hopes would never be dashed again. Jesus’ resurrection makes all things new. All things alive, even our hopes and dreams.

Sure, their earthly desires wouldn’t often come to pass. They may have lost many close friends, regretted misspoken words or deeds, and suffered great losses.

But in the end, they could still have hope, and so can we. Hope that we have someone watching over us who loves us so much that He was willing to die for us.

Don’t lose hope. Something greater is coming. In fact, He’s already here. ❤

Happy Easter! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26

The Empty Tomb

Happy Easter! He is risen!

Easter is the biggest holiday in the church calendar for many reasons. Our best reason to celebrate is that we are saved through Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus rising from the dead proved that He is holy and our Savior. Easter is a time for joyous delight.

But what if Easter doesn’t feel joyful this year? What if being stuck at home, living in a world of uncertainty, causes you to feel anything but celebratory today? Does that make you any less of a believer?

Absolutely not.

If you think about it, the women walking up to Jesus’ tomb likely weren’t joyful. They expected to find Jesus’ body in the tomb and be faced with the undeniable truth that their loved one was gone forever. They were full of grief, loneliness, and disappointment. They felt empty inside. They weren’t ashamed to bring their emptiness to Jesus as they approached His tomb.

But imagine their surprise when they were greeted with an empty tomb and an angel telling them unbelievable news! Jesus left an empty tomb behind so that He can fill the emptiness in our hearts. They traded all the feelings that come with emptiness–the grief, sadness, and uncertainty–and were filled with joy that only Jesus can bring.

You may not have all your questions answered today. But you can be filled with the joy that Jesus brings. Trade in your emptiness for Jesus’ love. Joy looks different in every season, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful or hopeful. Joy is allowing Jesus to make you feel peaceful and hopeful despite all you are going through.

Allow yourself to proclaim “He is risen!” with full confidence that by God’s grace, you have been saved.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ²And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here, but has risen.
Luke 24:1-6

Holy Week Series: When God Feels Far Away

Do you feel like God is silent? Are you struggling to believe in His promises for you? Here is some encouragement.

I once heard a pastor refer to Holy Saturday as the day when “everything was quiet”. The only events that are in the Bible that take place on Holy Saturday are the placement of the guards outside Jesus’ tomb, though I’d guess that the disciples are in hiding at this point and there is still a darkness and emptiness throughout the city. To those who loved Jesus, Holy Saturday probably felt like a terrifying, lonely time of confusion. Where was Jesus? How could He have possibly died this way? What does the future hold?

I’ve often wondered why Jesus rose on the third day. I’m sure someone with a Theology degree could explain all the reasons why the number 3 is important in the Bible, but it still puzzles me. Technically, Jesus could’ve been put in the tomb and suddenly sprung back to life on that same day. The Good Friday really would’ve been “good”, right? No waiting around, no anxious thoughts, no loss of hope.

But you know, I think the reason why Jesus waited three days was to test the faith of His followers. Did they believe that He would rise up again like He promised? Would they be waiting for His return? Or would they be disappointed, frustrated, and scared?

For us, knowing that Jesus did rise up again in a matter of mere days gives us hope. We didn’t have to live through those dark days of waiting. We already know that God had something better planned.

But still, we go through our own dark days where it feels like all hope is lost and God is silent. We cry out to God and wonder where He went. We feel abandoned, disappointed, and fearful. We forget about God’s promises.

The last time I felt this way was a few weeks ago. I felt stuck in my life and concerned about the future. I felt like I couldn’t hear God the way I used to. I lost perspective.

I once was given the wise advice that everything God is doing in the present moment is preparing us for the future. When we remember that God has a bigger plan, we don’t lose our hope when we feel alone. During those moments when we can’t hear God, it’s a test. God is testing us to see if we really do believe His promises. God promises to never leave us. God promises that He will make all things new. Do you believe that?

I’ve come to realize that after every dark season in my life, a wonderful, joyful season comes right after it. It’s like God was preparing me to enjoy and make the most of the season ahead by helping me persevere through the tough times.

Waiting feels like a long time for us because we don’t know when it will end. For us, three days is 72 hours. For the disciples, three days felt like eternity. But when we keep perspective during our times of waiting, we won’t lose our hope and faith. Nothing except eternal life with Jesus will last forever. This dark season will end, I promise. God has something wonderful planned for you. You are needed here.

I can’t tell you when the pain will stop or when you will finally be able to fully experience God’s love and grace. I don’t know what exactly will happen that will give you hope. But you can have that hope now by remembering that God always makes good on His promises. You don’t ever have to worry about God’s plan not working out. Trust me, or rather, trust God’s own words. He will always be victorious in the end. And when we are on His side, we will also win every battle against all the forms the enemy takes against us.

May you be filled with God’s strength and patience through every trial you are experiencing. Amen.

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Deuteronomy 4:31