The Day After
Have you ever been so sad and confused over something that you found it hard to move forward another day? Some of us may feel that way because of the issues COVID-19 has brought. Some of us may feel that way because we’ve had a defining life event that was so hurtful. Some of us may identify because we’ve lost something or someone so suddenly.
Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples and it’s the day after His crucifixion. You are mourning. You can’t believe Jesus, your Rabbi, the One you followed ever so carefully; the One you gave up everything for; and the one you were trying to be just like, is gone. He died, but you thought He was the Messiah. You are confused, you thought He had come to save Israel. How could He be gone before that happened? You are in doubt. Did the prophecies fail? Wasn’t Jesus supposed to fulfill those prophecies?
Then comes the guilt. They were supposed to imitate Him, even if it meant dying for what they believed in. Yet, they had run away, denied they knew Him and watched helplessly as He was beaten and crucified for hurting no one. The day after Jesus died, the disciples were lost and hurting. Just like us when we experience a tough life changing event.
I say to those who can identify where the disciples were that day, to look up. Don’t be discouraged. Dry your tears and know you won’t be in this place long. How can we know that for sure? We know what the disciples didn’t know that day. Jesus rose from the dead, and, Hallelujah, He destroyed death and gave us hope for the future. Through His resurrection, and before He ascended to heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us through all things.
Death of loved ones comes and pandemics roar. Illness tries to devour and finances fail. Rejection and hurt chase us and depression smothers, but we are children of the King. Life throws us tough twists and turns that try to take us down, but we have Jesus. He knows exactly how we feel. He understood how the disciples felt. But He brought us victory!
Change is coming just like it did after He was crucified. Clarity is coming just like it came to the disciples. Strength and perseverance will replace the sorrow and fear. Jesus will surround you with His love and compassion, if you let Him. He will shower you with His mercy and grace if you wait patiently. You may not get exactly what you want, but you will get more than you deserve or imagined. Trust Him. Follow Him. Throw your cares on Him. Then lose yourself in praise. Your praise will open the doors to joy and peace.
So let’s kick sadness, doubt, guilt, hurt, pain, rejection and depression out of our way, in the name of Jesus. Let’s open our hearts and minds to be filled with the love of Jesus. Trust and believe that His hope covers all wounds. You are the victorious child of God.
“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19
Prayer
Jesus,
I receive and believe that You died for my sins. I receive and believe that You rose from the grave on the third day. I receive and believe that Your grace and mercy have given me salvation. I receive and believe that change is coming for me with Your favor. I believe and receive that clarity is coming. I receive and believe that Your joy is my strength and that Your Holy Spirit empowers me. I receive and believe that You dwell mightily within me. I praise Your holy name and raise a hallelujah. I am a child of God because You. I am free because of You. I have a future, a hope and an inheritance because of You. Amen!
Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash
Google Doc
Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples and it’s the day after His crucifixion. You are mourning. You can’t believe Jesus, your Rabbi, the One you followed ever so carefully; the One you gave up everything for; and the one you were trying to be just like, is gone. He died, but you thought He was the Messiah. You are confused, you thought He had come to save Israel. How could He be gone before that happened? You are in doubt. Did the prophecies fail? Wasn’t Jesus supposed to fulfill those prophecies?
Then comes the guilt. They were supposed to imitate Him, even if it meant dying for what they believed in. Yet, they had run away, denied they knew Him and watched helplessly as He was beaten and crucified for hurting no one. The day after Jesus died, the disciples were lost and hurting. Just like us when we experience a tough life changing event.
I say to those who can identify where the disciples were that day, to look up. Don’t be discouraged. Dry your tears and know you won’t be in this place long. How can we know that for sure? We know what the disciples didn’t know that day. Jesus rose from the dead, and, Hallelujah, He destroyed death and gave us hope for the future. Through His resurrection, and before He ascended to heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us through all things.
Death of loved ones comes and pandemics roar. Illness tries to devour and finances fail. Rejection and hurt chase us and depression smothers, but we are children of the King. Life throws us tough twists and turns that try to take us down, but we have Jesus. He knows exactly how we feel. He understood how the disciples felt. But He brought us victory!
Change is coming just like it did after He was crucified. Clarity is coming just like it came to the disciples. Strength and perseverance will replace the sorrow and fear. Jesus will surround you with His love and compassion, if you let Him. He will shower you with His mercy and grace if you wait patiently. You may not get exactly what you want, but you will get more than you deserve or imagined. Trust Him. Follow Him. Throw your cares on Him. Then lose yourself in praise. Your praise will open the doors to joy and peace.
So let’s kick sadness, doubt, guilt, hurt, pain, rejection and depression out of our way, in the name of Jesus. Let’s open our hearts and minds to be filled with the love of Jesus. Trust and believe that His hope covers all wounds. You are the victorious child of God.
“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19
Prayer
Jesus,
I receive and believe that You died for my sins. I receive and believe that You rose from the grave on the third day. I receive and believe that Your grace and mercy have given me salvation. I receive and believe that change is coming for me with Your favor. I believe and receive that clarity is coming. I receive and believe that Your joy is my strength and that Your Holy Spirit empowers me. I receive and believe that You dwell mightily within me. I praise Your holy name and raise a hallelujah. I am a child of God because You. I am free because of You. I have a future, a hope and an inheritance because of You. Amen!
Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash
Google Doc
Posted in Walking In Grace
Tagged with Sad, Confused, Jesus, Messiah, Hope, Future, Resurrection, Holy Spirit, Victory, Change, Clarity, Strength, Perseverance, Love, Compassion, Sorrow, Fear, Mercy, Grace, Praise, Peace, Joy
Tagged with Sad, Confused, Jesus, Messiah, Hope, Future, Resurrection, Holy Spirit, Victory, Change, Clarity, Strength, Perseverance, Love, Compassion, Sorrow, Fear, Mercy, Grace, Praise, Peace, Joy
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