"Practically Divine"

Read Mark 15.

What a day! Darkness fell, our Savior was buried, and hope (for many) died.

Death is hard! If you’ve lost a loved one to death in any way, you know the darkness of death. But, physical death isn’t the only death that hurts. The death of relationship, a career, a dream, or even a plan can leave us feeling a grief we didn’t know was possible.

On Good Friday, the pharisees thought they’d killed Jesus once and for all. Many of His followers believed the same thing even though He’d explained His death to them already. I think the most difficult part of Easter weekend for the very first believers was the very real uncertainty. The “supposed to be” Savior was dead. Now what?

Y’all, I don’t have to reach too far to know the pain and anguish of “now what.” The many faces of death can cause pain, despair, and confusion. But, Jesus has given death a facelift. Without Friday’s burial, there could be no Sunday resurrection.

I love this quote from Becca on page 145,

“Rubble is everywhere in our lives…. In the rubble and remnants of those buildings, new dreams can be born. I am dedicating the next chapter of my life to reflecting on the practically divine nature of remnants and rubble. I will knit with discarded pieces of yarn; I will write from old words re-stitched together and repurposed. I will let go of rotting things and ideas and build something new and useful. When we let go, something new comes.”

Letting go is HARD! I’m not saying it needs to be easy. What I am saying is that God is in the business of resurrection. In order for Him to do that work, He has to allow something to die.

So, what needs to go? Take some time today to really think about this question. I encourage you to seek the Lord diligently with it. Ask Him to search your heart and uncover what He wants uncovered. Then, will you boldly let it go? Don’t worry about what it will look like. Don’t focus on the uncertainty or insecurity. Boldly let go and trust the God that led you to it, because He will offer provision in it.

God, you know the prayers of all of my friends’ hearts. Speak clearly to us today. Show us what we need to let die so that something new can be born. We want all that you have for us even if that means some of what we have now has to go. Amen.