Waiting For The Day

My wife Tonni  just posted a status on Facebook and inspired something. Wait! Now she has come into the room and declared that she had a new blog post or sermon (watch out, world!) taking shape in her head. So it’s looking like dueling posts. If Tonni  writes her version, it will show up @ tonnijobe.blogspot.com, so make sure you check it out. I must humbly give her credit for the origins of both posts.

Mine is as follows. Start here. When you have finished taking in the amazing accapella skills of Take 6, come on back.

Sunday’s on the way, indeed. As I write, it’s the day before Resurrection Sunday. This morning Tonni posts this on her FB page:

Cannot imagine the hopelessness of the disciples on this day. the confusion. the sadness. the fear. oh, Sunday was coming, but they had not a clue the unexplainable joy they would experience in a few hours time! O PRAISE YOU LORD!

Tomorrow, we celebrate resurrection. But for some of us, we’re stuck on Friday night and Saturday. How many of you out there (raise your hands!) spend a good deal of time thinking like your hope has died and isn’t coming back?

I can think of way too many moments in my life when I would get all caught up in everything that seemed wrong, wondering what hope there could be beyond the moment in which I was stuck. Which reminds me…

                I know, it’s kind of a disease with me, these forays off the path and into music and poetry but, my Bible is full of songs and digressions into poetry, so I’m guessing this is OK. And- I can’t count the number of moments I’ve been stuck in. In nearly every case for me (and, if you are honest-you, too) I got there by my own design; bad decisions, mistaken assumptions, placing my faith in the wrong things. Then, like most of the world, I’d just accept these places as my lot and set about the business of making myself less miserable in that place where I settled for so little. I missed out on the power of resurrection. Some days I still do.

                On that Saturday before the Resurrection, Jesus’ friends were stuck in a moment. Things had spun completely out of their control and their faith was gone. They should have known better. He told them what would happen. He spelled it all out. He told them what it would cost to follow Him. He made clear where they should place their faith. Yet, there they were in agony wondering what went wrong.

                We though, know how the story ends. We don’t have to stay stuck on Friday night or Saturday or in any of our own moments of despair. There is a way beyond all of this. Jesus took care of it for us.

                Sometimes, as Take 6 says, “it may seem like that Friday night, but Sunday’s on the way”.

                Sometimes, as the Bono and Edge say, “the night runs over and the day won’t last”. Sometimes your way can “falter along the stony path. This too shall pass”.

                Infinitely more importantly, Jesus reminds us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

                HE HAS! We win! Thank you, God!

               

PS- Thanks to my Tonni who always inspires resurrection thoughts in me.