Every year spring seems a bit like a miracle. Even my yard, which was cold and brown a week ago, is blooming.
The past few weeks have felt unrelenting. We have dear friends who are mourning a great loss, those waiting, aching for answered prayer, others who are trusting God for healing and His sovereign care.
It feels heavy.
It feels like the weight of a broken world.
It feels like we need a miracle; like we need a savior.
The season of Lent gives us an opportunity to examine our hearts and reflect on our need for God’s grace.
As the season of Lent comes to a close, my heart feels heavy and prone; I am certain that I need God’s grace. Today I planted a dahlia. Spring is beautiful. Warm weather feels like relief, and flowers emerging from a cold, bitter ground are small reminders of God’s beauty. But spring isn’t the miracle my heart longs for. My expectant heart is waiting to see the stone rolled from the tomb.
As I’ve mourned with my friends and watched them trust the Lord, my faith feels fragile. I keep thinking, isn’t this enough? Can’t we have some reprieve — no more loss, no more brokenness. Just for a bit; or at the very least help me think of some other way to bless a friend in need besides showing up with a casserole.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” – John 14:1
This world is broken, but Jesus is good, and in Him our salvation is sure.
Lately, sadness has felt like truth, and Jesus is reminding me that while grief is real, it is not triumphant. In a few days I’m looking forward to celebrating Easter with my family; there will be carefully-curated baskets, my kids will wear fancy shoes and bowties, and I’ll have on a bright dress that makes me look like an overdue Easter egg in a cardigan. I cannot wait to celebrate the truth that God did not abandon me to a life of showing up at my friends’ houses with a gospel of casseroles and pats on the back. There is rest in the cross, hope in the resurrection.
There will be sadness, but there will also be dahlias.
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.'” – Revelation 21: 5a
Today is Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified and took on the brokenness, the sin, the sadness. Darkness fell and Jesus overcame it. The stone is rolled away — the tomb is empty.
“For I know that my redeemer lives…” – Job 19:25
He is risen! He is risen indeed.
What a beautiful post – I’m visiting from Faith Along the Way. I hope you have a wonderful Easter! God bless!
Angie
PS – I also wanted to invite you to hop on board the Great Blog Train (blog hop) – we are traveling to British Columbia CANADA: http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2015/04/the-great-blog-train-28-giveaway.html
The message of Easter is bringing hope to my heart. Your post was right on point. I have found myself singing “Because He Lives” all weekend long. I’m glad I stopped by from the Faith Along The Way link up.