The Day in Between
By Paula Taylor
When people think about Easter, it often feels like just two days are given a title.
Good Friday : when we remember that Jesus died.
Easter Sunday : when we celebrate and remember the glorious resurrection.
But I would like to focus on “The Day in Between” – the one no one really talks about.
The silence.
The nothing day.
The waiting.
The Devastation of Loss
One of the most devastating things that can happen in this life is the death of a loved one.
The disciples must have been devastated. They were likely confused; their friend, their teacher, the one they had spent three years with. The way, the cause they had given up everything for.
They also believed He was going to save them from Roman oppression.
Their hopes had been shattered.
Jesus had died. He was buried in a tomb, with Roman guards placed at the entrance to make sure no one could steal the body.
It was the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest.
His followers were resting, mourning, crying, grieving.
Their world had gone silent.
Maybe they even felt that God was silent.
When We Cannot See the Purpose
I remember a time in my life when things felt uncertain and unfair.
A situation at work changed, and suddenly I found myself moved away from a role I loved.
At the time, it felt confusing and really disappointing. I couldn’t see any purpose in it, and I wondered why it had happened.
But looking back, I can see God had not abandoned me. He was still guiding my path.
We all see and hear of so much suffering and devastation in our world.
The cancer diagnosis.
The dementia confirmation.
The mother who has lost her child.
The man who has lost his wife.
The couple who struggle to conceive.
The suffering caused by war.
And we ask:
Is anyone really in control?
Does God hear our prayers?
Those broken disciples may have felt all hope was gone.
Jesus had been defeated… or had He?
Knowing the End Changes Everything
We know how the story unfolds. We know what’s about to happen.
It’s like knowing the end of a film; it changes how you see everything.
The darkest day was about to be transformed. Something unexpected was going to happen.
But was it really unexpected?
Jesus had said many times that He would rise again.
Maybe this speaks to us today.
There are times in our lives when we are waiting. Answers don’t come. We feel alone. We
don’t know what the future holds. Life feels uncertain.
Hope in the Silence
Easter invites us to consider the silence.
Sometimes we think no one is in control, and it’s only when we look back that we can see God’s hand.
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5
Perhaps this is a good place to start “God, if You are real, help me to see hope again.”
Death and darkness do not have the final word. Hope can still rise.
Jesus crushed death. He suffered a cruel and painful death because He loves you and me.
But this wasn’t the end… don’t lose hope, because Sunday is coming.
A Question for Us
So let me ask you:
Is there a possibility that God is still at work in the middle of your struggles?
We need to look up and look out. The hope we have is fulfilled in Jesus.
Paula was one of the guests on our recent Writing Greenhouse - a short term mentoring project to encourage and equip women to give writing a go.