April 19, 2019
Self-pity haunted me at night when I first faced the anguish of my 19-year-old son Joe’s death. My world turned upside down with heartache. I sunk in desperation, wondering how I could ever face my tomorrows dragging the heavy chain of sorrow. Would I ever be able to laugh again? Would peace come back? Would God have mercy and fill the void of his absence?
Questions and more questions filled my shattered heart.
But one day, that same broken heart received a glimpse of hope, a ray of comfort and a breakthrough of truth in Christ. He also dragged the cross. He bled his pain. Without complaint, sorrow scraped his heart too. And then nailed on the wood, he tasted the bitterness of betrayal mixed with the hardship of injustice.
Why did He not fight? Beg for freedom from the cross? Or curse His fate?
The answer echoes through humanity. Because He knew glory awaited Him. He was certain eternity was His. And He counted on heaven.
Jesus knew God’s plan.
God had taken charge. He had a plan. His plan was to make the way for our deepest pain to be nailed on the cross. Each drop of blood He shed washed our sins clean. And through Jesus, God took control by defeating the enemy so we wouldn’t have to.
As I faced the other side of sorrow, I embraced that truth. With the celebration of the resurrection of hope, and the rebirth of my joy, came a new beginning—my own Easter Sunday. And while wearing the new outfit of healing, of joy and renewed gusto, I got busy creating a new joy-filled life.
That was my life that also was resurrected. Not for my own satisfaction. Not for my comfort. But to be the banner telling the world what God had done, for others to see what happens when we nail our sorrow to the cross and allow God to take charge.
How about you?
Have you reached your own Easter of triumph for others to see? Whether sorrow or serenity, we’re subtly creating a legacy, weaving memories, and painting strokes on our own portrait.
And for the Easters to come, the portrait will display the life we lived, the values we held and the conviction that danced in our heart when we answered:
- Did we sink under the weight of our cross?
- Did we keep moving with the strength of hope?
- Did we relish our own Easter of joy?
- Did we choose to see life beyond circumstances, or did circumstances see us to despair?
- Did we face challenges with determination, or did we allow them to determine our destiny?
- Did we look for tomorrow with passion, or did momentary trials rob the passion for today?
- Did we reach out to others to encourage them, or did our own discouragement reached out to hold us back?
- Did we live life rich with God’s reassurance, or did we live empty of His grace?
- Did fear steal our joy, or did God’s joy erase all fear?
- Did we do things for our own interest, or did we first take interest in God’s ways?
- Did we follow our plans, or did we first plan to follow God’s path?
- Did we fret over petty things, or find the power of God’s precepts?
No matter what the answer, there is no cross of pain that can hold us down; no suffering that can hold us back because Jesus is alive. And with passionate Love He declares, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Let’s Pray
Father, I thank you for the triumph. And I pray your everlasting love nourishes my desires, goals and dreams. I ask for wisdom to let you take charge so I may leave a legacy that honors you and resonates with my children’s children. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Do you have the courage to let God take charge?
Janet
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Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.
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