While I love Christmas, over the past 14 years, Easter has gained new and deeply personal significance. I particularly treasure the hope and promise it embodies. You see, 14 years ago, I found myself living through my own personal nightmare: my husband passed away unexpectedly, leaving me a young widow overnight, with three boys all under the age of 10. Losing the love of my life was debilitating enough but I also faced the challenge of navigating life's trials thereafter.
With the joy of Resurrection, I believe my husband is somewhere, and I am confident we will see each other again. With the Lord as my rock, I have been able to guide my three sons to adulthood. The two eldest are now fully educated, self-sufficient, and gainfully employed in aerospace and software consulting. My youngest is in high school and remarkably easygoing, so I am embracing the light at the end of a long, dark personal tunnel.
This brings me back to hope. Those of us who grasp the state of affairs in our country and the world understand that these are indeed dark times, with the promise of further challenges ahead. The pervasiveness of the insidious forces, mere manifestations of evil, infiltrating all aspects of life is astonishing, yet no longer surprising.
Had the events of 2020 unfolded differently, I believe we would have remained blissfully unaware until it was too late to seek remedy. While many are paralyzed by fear or are cowering, there are others who fearlessly fight against the evil threatening to overpower us. Many of us find ourselves in David vs. Goliath battles, and the road ahead may seem disheartening. Yet, we know how the story concludes.
Let us rejoice, knowing that death, our greatest foe, has been conquered. Let us be grateful for Him who loved us so profoundly that He sacrificed His life for our salvation. May we persist in our fight against evil, pursue what is right, and strive to fulfill God’s will and our divine purpose for if we stand with Him, who can stand against us?
Have a blessed Easter!
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Jesus Christ.
This is so beautiful and spot on! Glad you made it through those very challenging years.
"The pervasiveness of the insidious forces, mere manifestations of evil, infiltrating all aspects of life is astonishing, yet no longer surprising." 100% - infiltrating all aspects of life - shocking, yet no longer surprising
"Had the events of 2020 unfolded differently, I believe we would have remained blissfully unaware until it was too late to seek remedy." 100% agree! That was a huge wake up call, and brought out the best in many of us. We'll never be complacent again.
"...there are others who fearlessly fight against the evil threatening to overpower us. Many of us find ourselves in David vs. Goliath battles..." Yes!
"May we persist in our fight against evil, pursue what is right, and strive to fulfill God’s will and our divine purpose for if we stand with Him, who can stand against us?" Yes!
Lyrics for Easter
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat; ( **This feels true - we've now sorted ourselves into categories: who opened their eyes and saw the fire and ran to put it out, who ignored it while their neighbor's house burned to the ground, and who stuck their foot out and tripped those running with buckets of water?**)
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet! (**There is a joy in discovering our gifts and putting them to good use in these dark times, and a joy in how that brings us closer to God**)
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free, (**Those who are fearlessly fighting, as reflected in your post**)
While God is marching on.
Glory, glory hallelujah! Happy Easter to you!
Beautifully expressed. Have a blessed Easter 🙏