Saturday, March 26, 2016

Hoping in the Midst of Despair


I wonder why Good Friday and Easter Sunday both have special names, but Saturday, sandwiched between them, gets no special designation. The day of Jesus' crucifixion, Good Friday, was one of horror and despair to His followers. Sunday, Resurrection Day, was one of rejoicing and affirmation of God's promises. But what was Saturday?

Saturday was a day of huddling in dark fear and loss. If any faith remained, it is not recorded. The ancient disciples of Jesus did not have our perspective of seeing ahead to Sunday. Saturday was a day where hopes and dreams of what was promised were shattered. They didn't know what to do so they did nothing. They cowered together in the place where they had once known He who claimed He would overcome the world. So where was He now?

Saturday is the symbol of where most of us live most of our lives. How often do we hear the cry, "Where is God?" How often do we utter it ourselves?

Yesterday, I met a beautiful horse. I cannot tell you much about it yet, as I need to clear it with the owner. However, I can tell you what the horse taught me. If we know who our master is, we will NEVER forget Him. If we know our master could be trusted in the past, we can trust Him in the future. If our master was someone who loved and cared for us, His apparent absence is not that He deserted us. He must have a plan that we may be unable to comprehend. He is there...but in a place we are not yet able to see. If we wait with expectant trust, He will return. If we behave as He taught us to behave, we may even get a big bucket of grain.

I think I would name Saturday: Hoping in the Midst of Despair Saturday. It's a little wordy, so probably won't catch on.
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Acts 2:24-36 

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ ...

John 20:19-20

19 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!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.




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