“Remain hopeful when your world seems darkest. When God created this dark world, He first provided light”. – Braden

---

My wife wrote the following story several years ago, and I often re-share it on Easter weekends. Only a mother could possibly fathom how Mary, who had heard her baby take his very first breath, must have felt while helplessly watching him take his last. Cathy posted this only months after such an experience when her life was in chaos and complete darkness. She saw no rationale for the loss of her son and hope was just a dim and fading light. Still, she remained hopeful. How is that even possible?

Reading her story each Easter is helpful to me. We now have benefit of time, healing, and hindsight. Over the last few years, we’ve begun seeing small hints of purpose in the wake of tragedy. I’m always amazed and inspired with her ability to remain faithful. She has been able serve others in similar circumstances and as an encouragement to our family through her steadfast faith and joy. Perhaps even today, such an example of faith may help someone else in need.

On Easter Saturday, Jesus was counted out. Defeated by this world. All alone in a cold and dark place, yet tomorrow He would arise. Hang on… HOPE IS ON THE WAY!

---

---

Easter weekend 2019 – Cathy Speed

Anyone who has ever met me knows this has been the hardest year of my life. And I’ve had some rough ones. Today I’ve been thinking a lot about Easter SATURDAY… The day nothing happened.

Before the big event that truly changed everything, there’s Saturday, when we prepare for Easter. We mow grass for egg hunts, easter outfits ready… dye the eggs… We celebrate Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified and Easter Sunday, the death defying, grave defeating, hope and joy inspiring day of His resurrection. But Saturday is silent. And I will never again see Easter Saturday the same.

Never has Easter SATURDAY spoken to me like it does this year. It was the day when hope seemed lost. It was all over, and there was no reason to think anything would ever change. The disciples were alone. Everything they had believed in seemed lost and their souls were crushed. No answer seemed possible. The crowds had gone home.

The Saturday after Good Friday is the only day in over 2000 years that not one single person on earth believed that Jesus was alive. No one could understand God’s plan. This year, that day speaks loudly to me. While we wait to see what on earth God’s plan could possibly be. I’ve been an extremely unwilling participant in His plan this time. My plan seemed so much better. I’ve had quite a few arguments with Him. Loud ones.

Right now it’s still Saturday. Heaven feels so quiet. Why did there have to be a Saturday in between the day every hope and dream seemed crushed, and the joy and answers God had planned? It’s hard to figure out what to even do on Saturday, hard to hold onto the belief that God has to have a plan. But if Jesus could be found in a grave on Saturday, If He could literally be found in hell itself, is there anywhere that I can’t find Him?

So I CHOOSE today to trust God’s promise that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. Even though I don’t like this plan I’ve had to live, I will choose to believe our “Sunday” is on the way. And know that His work on the cross was finished, but His plan for me is not.

---

“…weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.” – Psalms 30:5

---

---