today.
the day after Good Friday.
the day before Resurrection Sunday.
that awkward day in between,,
that just kind of seems... there.
today.
"Silent Saturday".
that space of just... waiting, uncertainty, confusion, doubt, fear, anxiety
with not even a hint of something tangible to grab hold of,
or a solid rock to stand upon,
to cause us to hope.
let alone rejoice.
because all looks bleak.
and prospects rock-bottom low.
and darkness so quickly encroaches.
blinding eyes, and snuffing out the soul-light.
and so here we are. desperate.
arms flailing,
fingers reaching,
in what seems like just emptiness--air,,
trying to find something.. solid,
something we can literally wrap our fingers around, and feel.
[here we are, the doubting Thomases.]
and it's all because we so quickly forget,
just as the disciples did,
what He's already said.
the Words that He's spoke.
the promises He's made.
and honestly,
we've made hope to be this fluffy, feel good word.
when really, at it's core, hope is hard.
and without faith,
it's plain impossible.
"now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (hebrews 11:1)
because when we can see and feel something,
there's no need to hope for it.
faith is the solid foundation, [that ACTUALLY exists], that our hopes are placed upon.
hopes are patiently, expectantly, waited for,, because our faith creates the
proof and ability to spiritually see that which hasn't come to fruition yet.
faith allows us to see-- that which we can't physically see yet.
[[because of faith, my hope is expectation]]
and faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
and so it comes full circle.
[we need His words].
to break the silence of this Saturday.
because really,
He never intended it to be that.
"And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.'
and they remembered His words..." (Luke 24:5-8a)
and I feel the Lord saying that many are walking through a season of what seems like a perpetual Silent Saturday.
Where faith feels weak,
and hope seems lost,
to actually believe for that thing you've been asking, and seeking, and knocking and praying for.
there seems to be no fruit.
and you feel like you have nothing to hold on to.
you wonder, what's the point?
you ask, "did I even really hear from You?"
"Surely if this was Your will for me, You would have already answered by now."
but Beloved,
your prayers are not unheard.
and they are not going unanswered.
He is working in ways that you cannot physically see yet.
and He's about to break forth.
He can be trusted.
"forever, O Lord, Your Word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations...
keep steady my steps according to Your promise..
I hope in Your words." (Psalm 119)
So Beloved,
the question is no longer will God come through,
but.. I hear Him asking,,
what will you do in the meantime?
>>what will your "saturday" look like? <<
[honor Him dear one. honor Him in this season. in this waiting. in the "silence"]
"for those who honor Me I will honor" (1 samuel 2:30)
because even our "silence" is still bursting with His words.
and we have no reason to not hope.
and we have every reason to rejoice.
"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We've seen the Lord." But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my fingers into the mark of the nails, and place my hand unto His side, I will never believe.'
Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'
Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do no disbelieve, but believe.'
Thomas answered Him, 'My Lord and my God!'
Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen Me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:24-29)
the day after Good Friday.
the day before Resurrection Sunday.
that awkward day in between,,
that just kind of seems... there.
today.
"Silent Saturday".
that space of just... waiting, uncertainty, confusion, doubt, fear, anxiety
with not even a hint of something tangible to grab hold of,
or a solid rock to stand upon,
to cause us to hope.
let alone rejoice.
because all looks bleak.
and prospects rock-bottom low.
and darkness so quickly encroaches.
blinding eyes, and snuffing out the soul-light.
and so here we are. desperate.
arms flailing,
fingers reaching,
in what seems like just emptiness--air,,
trying to find something.. solid,
something we can literally wrap our fingers around, and feel.
[here we are, the doubting Thomases.]
and it's all because we so quickly forget,
just as the disciples did,
what He's already said.
the Words that He's spoke.
the promises He's made.
and honestly,
we've made hope to be this fluffy, feel good word.
when really, at it's core, hope is hard.
and without faith,
it's plain impossible.
"now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (hebrews 11:1)
because when we can see and feel something,
there's no need to hope for it.
faith is the solid foundation, [that ACTUALLY exists], that our hopes are placed upon.
hopes are patiently, expectantly, waited for,, because our faith creates the
proof and ability to spiritually see that which hasn't come to fruition yet.
faith allows us to see-- that which we can't physically see yet.
[[because of faith, my hope is expectation]]
and faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
and so it comes full circle.
[we need His words].
to break the silence of this Saturday.
because really,
He never intended it to be that.
"And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.'
and they remembered His words..." (Luke 24:5-8a)
and I feel the Lord saying that many are walking through a season of what seems like a perpetual Silent Saturday.
Where faith feels weak,
and hope seems lost,
to actually believe for that thing you've been asking, and seeking, and knocking and praying for.
there seems to be no fruit.
and you feel like you have nothing to hold on to.
you wonder, what's the point?
you ask, "did I even really hear from You?"
"Surely if this was Your will for me, You would have already answered by now."
but Beloved,
your prayers are not unheard.
and they are not going unanswered.
He is working in ways that you cannot physically see yet.
and He's about to break forth.
He can be trusted.
"forever, O Lord, Your Word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations...
keep steady my steps according to Your promise..
I hope in Your words." (Psalm 119)
So Beloved,
the question is no longer will God come through,
but.. I hear Him asking,,
what will you do in the meantime?
>>what will your "saturday" look like? <<
[honor Him dear one. honor Him in this season. in this waiting. in the "silence"]
"for those who honor Me I will honor" (1 samuel 2:30)
because even our "silence" is still bursting with His words.
and we have no reason to not hope.
and we have every reason to rejoice.
"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We've seen the Lord." But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my fingers into the mark of the nails, and place my hand unto His side, I will never believe.'
Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'
Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do no disbelieve, but believe.'
Thomas answered Him, 'My Lord and my God!'
Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen Me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:24-29)
