STRUGGLING

When the disciples saw Jesus crucified, their hearts must have sunk. They may have wondered whether they’d “heard” Him right, felt bitter disappointment that their dreams of His setting up a kingdom here on earth were dashed, been angry that Jesus had allowed Himself to be “captured” by His opposition and crucified. They took to hiding, convinced that they would likely be hunted down next. They were fearful and struggling with their mountain of doubt and weighed down, their backpacks filled with worry and concern!

Then Easter morning, they struggled again… All that they had known (crucified people, those who had been brutally tortured and hung upon trees had never come to life again…dead men had never come to life EXCEPT when Jesus told them to or said they would – and He was now buried in a tomb) played through their heads. Their hopes and dreams had seemingly been hung upon the tree Jesus died on and they were cradling their hurting hearts – when some woman told them she had seen Jesus – alive! Whoa! I’m sure they had doubts and yet there was enough belief to cause them to go to check out such a report. They did not see Him - and yet the tomb was empty. Yes, they must have struggled to wrap their understanding around that evidence. But things were starting to make sense out of things they’d previously heard Jesus say. The pieces of the puzzle were being fit together…

We’ve entered history at a different time than they, but we have our own struggles. What has been “secure and certain”, a part of our everyday lives, something we have counted on, what our hopes and dreams have attached to and we have depended on – has vanished. Color has drained from our world; hope has slid into doubt and despair. We are no different than the disciples.

We need to be reminded of JESUS, that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We need to maintain our focus on Him. He is our SALVATION. He redeemed us. He can and will bring LIFE as we believe in Him and all that He has said (for it is TRUTH!) He shows us the WAY to an eternal relationship with our Creator, LIFE! The pieces that are scattered and seem to fit nowhere will be fitted together by God – and when we see the completed puzzle, we will know/see that every piece had its place! And, we will wonder at both its beauty – and the ability of the God who put it together!

When things are dark in our worlds, we are drawn toward the Light!

Twila Jean Charles