In the incredible story of Jesus’s sacrifice and triumph over death, Friday is filled with sadness and despair, and Sunday is filled with joy and wonder; but what happened on Saturday?
Luke 23:56 says, “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”
Jesus’s followers barely had time to lay his body in the tomb on Friday before they had to go home and be obedient to the Sabbath commandment. After a day filled with sorrow and anguish, anger and despair, they had to go home and do absolutely nothing.
In God’s perfect timing, He forced His followers to rest and wait on Him.
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!…
Psalm 130:1, 5-7 ESV
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.”
Have you ever found yourself just waiting on a Saturday? A day where you just don’t know what to do next? Sometimes we are faced with days, months, or even years where it looks like all hope is buried; where your dreams have died and you feel alone.
There will be moments where we wonder, was all that we put our hope in real?
There will come times when we feel alone and Heaven feels silent.
We will certainly face doubt, fear, and silence, if only for a little while, because our finite minds cannot comprehend or see all that God is doing in our lives. We can see only a small glimpse of God’s infinite plan.
Jesus’s followers hid in a dark, locked room. Moses wandered in the wilderness. Ruth and Naomi were faithful when it looked as if their hopes had died.
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!…
Psalm 130:1, 5-7 ESV
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.”
This side of Heaven there will always be the darkness, the wilderness and the closed tombs.
There will always be the wandering, and the wondering, and the waiting; because it is in the forced rest and waiting and uncertainty that our hearts are forced to look to Him.
When we can’t see the next step, we can hold the hand of the One who can see it all.
When we feel as if all hope is lost, we can trust the One who knows it all and cares for every one of us.
And the best part about God’s infinite plan is, because of His great love, there will always be a Sunday.
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
Lamentations 3:21-23 ESV
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Because of the Lord’s great love for us and His sacrifice on the cross, the battle is already won. He is already victorious. We are already on the winning team. Our job in this waiting room of life is to surrender, trust, and wait.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good: dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Psalm 37:3-7
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act…
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;”
In Jamie Erickson’s book, Holy Hygge, she reminds us of the story of Lazarus’s death and the heartbreak of his sisters. How Jesus made them wait for Him to come and visit, even until after their brother had died.
Jamie remarks, “Work was happening in their hearts when it seemed like Christ was silent.” She reflects on John 11:4, “The waiting period compelled the women to give up on their ability to help. It forced them to relinquish control so that Christ would receive greater glory.”
So if you find yourself on a Saturday today, let me urge you; press in to Jesus. Bring Him your pain and your hopelessness. Be honest and cry out to Him in your despair. Seek Him, not just for answers or direction; but seek Him, simply to know Him more.
I promise you, He will be found.
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
Psalm 27:7-8, 11, 14 ESV
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, ‘Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path…
Wait for the Lord;
be strong,
and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!”
Marigolds & Mondays 