One On One: 100 Days With Jesus--PASSIONSample

 Saturday: The One with you in your pain   

Most of us live on Easter Saturday. Something tragic or sad happened yesterday and we cling to a promise that all will be made right tomorrow. But we live in today, in between the pain and the hope. 

On that first Easter Saturday, on a day designated for Sabbath rest, Jesus’ disciples likely had none. 

Again, the rooster crowed, waking the day. Semi-conscious, Peter thought, was it all a nightmare? But the lingering scent of a charcoal fire hung on his clothes and his eyes burned with regret. 

The women were antsy to get back to Jesus’ tomb and properly care for His body. In their minds they planned how they would lay Him to rest at tomorrow’s first light. They felt restless until they could serve Him this final time. 

Without Jesus, the rugged fishermen-turned-disciples likely felt displaced and deserted by their teacher. They sat together in the upper room, each isolated in their private grief. Lonely in this morning without Jesus. Some imagined they would be next to die. Some wished they could. 

And then there were the questions… How could Jesus have been the long-awaited Messiah if He was just killed? What should we do now? Where was Judas? Was it true that he too was dead?—by his own hand? 

And the question for all of us, how do I live on Easter Saturday? After the heartache but before the peace. After the funeral. The trial. The loss. After what you hoped would never happen, just did. How do you live then? 

At some point in our lives we all will own this kind of in-between pain. It looks different for each of us, but in the end, pain is pain. What we invested our time, energy, and resources in is gone. Any restoration seems like a far-off dream, at best.

If you are in this in-between place today, here are some truths to help you believe.

* God is with you in this straight place. You’re not alone, even if this is how you feel. He’s not going to leave you (Hebrews 13:5). Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. He takes special care of the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18). 

* He is working a bigger plan (1 Corinthians 2:9) and will redeem this situation for good (Romans 8:28). Cooperate and He’ll work in you a grace and mercy uniquely yours for this season. Believe He’s building faith in you—to understand life beyond what you can see (Hebrews 11:1). Emotions aside, believe what’s real about God in this moment.

* And finally, surprisingly two secular sources say it well: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” And, “Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.” Walk with God through this difficult season and He will give your life purpose and meaning both in this moment and on the other side of it. 

You might be living on Easter Saturday today, but be sure, Sunday is coming. 

Believe God is with you, He’s writing a bigger story, and if you trust Him today, you will smile again tomorrow—and maybe even laugh when you get a good look at what’s ahead. 

Tomorrow: One on one with Jesus at daybreak