Comeback: An Easter Devotional for TeensSample

A Day in the Grave

By Javan Shashaty

We can all remember a time in our lives when we were really confused. I recently watched the movie, Tenet. I won’t spoil it for you . . . mostly because I don’t even know what I would be spoiling! Like other movies by famous director Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar), I was left with more questions than answers. But the good news is that the answers to these questions existed! I just had to go look for them (mostly on YouTube). Once I found out what was actually happening in this confusing film, the endless questions in my mind were at ease (at least for a few hours). 

Sometimes in life, though, we experience the confusion that is much more serious than a confusing movie. Life doesn’t always go the way we thought it would, and sometimes this leaves us with nothing but endless questions: 

“God, how could you allow this to happen?"

"Why me, Lord?"

"Why my family?" 

"Why my friend?" 

"Haven't I been a good person?” 

Confusion is a crippling thing. It can keep us paralyzed in fear until we receive the clarity we’re looking for. 

The Saturday after the death and burial of Jesus must have been a very confusing day. I can imagine that every follower of Jesus had the same questions: 

Was it really supposed to end like this? 

How could Jesus allow this to happen?

Where do we go from here? 

However, the answers to all of these questions were not far off! In fact, Jesus’ followers needed to do only one thing to find the answers: REMEMBER. Jesus had told His followers many times that He would die and be resurrected three days later. He said it very clearly. He gave them the answer before they knew they needed it. But somewhere along the way, they forgot! All they needed to do was remember what Jesus said and believe it. And once they discovered the empty tomb, they finally recalled what Jesus said. 

Remembering the promises of God will get us through the confusing and discouraging times in our lives. Jesus has spoken through His Word! The more we can stay connected to Scripture and constantly remind ourselves of His promises, His truth, and His love, grace, and power, the more we will remember what Jesus has said. And the more we remember what Jesus has said, the more we will trust Him, rest in Him, and live with joy and expectation in Him, even in difficult moments and hard seasons! 

Because here’s the reality: Saturday eventually turned into Sunday . . . And Jesus rose again from the dead, just like He said He would! No matter how dark and confusing your Saturday is, Sunday always comes, and Jesus always claims the victory! That is a hope we can always hold on to! 

Luke 24:8 says: “Then they remembered His words.” Let that be a challenge to you today: REMEMBER HIS WORDS! 

PAUSE:  What in your life tends to distract you from remembering what Jesus has said?

PRACTICE: How can you intentionally remind yourself of the promises of God every day? 

PRAY: God, help me to remember Your words.  When life gets tough and I feel myself drawing far, help me to remember Your words and draw near. Amen.