Lent Devotional: RestoreSample

Restore: The failure of failure

The devil probably felt quite smug leading into Easter morning, believing that he had won. I like to imagine the look of sheer terror on his face as Christ smashed down the door of death and put a permanent stamp of hope on the universe.

Failure is never final. God specializes in second chances – his mercies are new every morning.

What seems like defeat can lead to the greatest victories. Is this not what happened on the cross? An event that looked like the ultimate set-back was actually just a set-up for God’s final victory.

Jesus had to descend to the dead before he could rise up. A seed must be buried before it can shoot up into new life.

This is the hope we have, the hope of Easter. We can stare down failures, mistakes and defeats – and even death itself – and say, thanks to Christ, you will not end me.

At Tearfund, we’ll never stop striving to take that hope where the need is greatest.

Lord Jesus,

I cannot thank you enough for the sacrifice you made,
For the torment you endured in the name of love.
I cannot thank you enough that you rose again,
That you said ‘no more’ to sin and death.
I cannot thank you enough for wanting to spend eternity with me,
For clothing me in righteousness and holiness.
Thanks to you, I have nothing to fear;
Thanks to you, I live in hope;
Thanks to you, I have a love that will never die.

Amen.

Gideon Heugh, Tearfund