It’s Easter Sunday. He has risen – Hallelujah! But let’s now stop there. Our journey doesn’t end. How was your own journey during these 40 days of Lent? Did you make any progress in growing closer to our Lord? What were some of the little tidbits or lessons along the way that Jesus revealed to you? Lent is not the time for rejoicing, but it is an important and necessary time for preparation and attempting, in our own way, to better follow the way of Jesus’ cross. However painful as it still is for us to recall Jesus’ journey, we should be both humbled and strengthened that He put himself totally in his Father’s hands – His will be done.
How many times during our life here on earth, like Jesus, are we also tested? How many crosses are we asked to bear every day? Many times, we carry one cross and then unexpectedly another cross appears. There are so many answers we look for, but that’s the reason we spend time following Jesus – to hear those answers and grow in our faith. I admit, we don’t always get the answers we desire and rejoicing while we are in the desert may seem impossible. But, without Jesus rising that we celebrate today, there is no rejoicing! Without following Him there is no hope, there is only barren desert before us.
So, let’s celebrate today, this Easter, and dedicate our day to thanking Jesus and God our Father for allowing us to finally rejoice. Let’s rejoice knowing that He sacrificed everything for you and me, rejoice for the empty tomb, rejoice for all our gifts that He has given us, rejoice for the miracles He continually performs in us and around us, and never forget to rejoice in the Holy Spirit that continually gives us the strength to get up and carry our crosses through our many deserts because Jesus is always there. We must always rejoice in Him and only in Him. Anything short of that makes His sacrifice without meaning.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, with transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
From God's Lips 