Even Now?!?!
I sometimes find the weeks following Easter Sunday to be a reminder that our hope is in the eternal promise, even as we still live on this side of the so-called veil between this life and the next. When Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, he does not take away any challenges or struggles they still have ahead of them. They are afraid. They are lost. They don’t know what can possibly be next. But he comes and stands with them. He comes into their midst and offers them peace in the midst of their difficulty. He breathes on them the Spirit of life so that they know that whatever they will endure in the time ahead, they cannot be separated from the love of God.
Sarah and I once had a friend ask how we would share with our children how hard life can be. Sarah’s quick and profound response was that the world would make it clear on its own, but our job was to make sure our children know that they will be ok and loved even in the midst of the challenges of this life. Friends, with the last 13 months behind us, we can understand the importance of Jesus’ first words to his friends, “Peace be with you.” We can easily ponder how important it is to see the complexity of the difficulties of life and loss being met with the promise, comfort, and peace of Christ. To put it simply, there are moments when life is hard and God never allows us to face those moments alone nor are those moments final.
I am aware that this is a bit different from the peeps and Easter eggs so prevalent in this season, but I also know that we have a God of truth that deeply desires for us to know what complete love is like. It isn’t just for us in the best of times, but even more wonderfully, the love of God is for us in hard times as well. This is the fulness of the love of God. This is what all the Alleluias are about! We are praising the Lord for the absolute completeness of His love. I pray that we have a better 13 months ahead for sure! But no matter what happens, never forget that in God nothing is lost and all are saved. Happy Easter! Alleluia, Alleluia!!
We love you and God loves you.