Most of the time people talk about the “-” as the life someone lives between being born and dying. But what about when you go into the “valley of the shadow of death” and still have to keep going? You know you will get through it eventually, but right now you can’t see a way through.

Good Friday is the day we remember Jesus’ death on the cross as the “lamb who takes away the sins of the world.” 

Saturday, for most Christians is the normal day between Good Friday and Easter. (The “-” between death and new life).

Then Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus as He triumphed over the grave and now gives us new life.

Let’s think on that “-” for a moment:

The disciples saw their Hope for a better world be beaten, whipped, mocked, and brutally killed. Even if they had remembered Jesus saying He would rise again after 3 days (which by what we see in Scripture they didn’t), they still would have endured the darkness of the time between Jesus’ death and His glorious’ resurrection.

We know the end of the story - we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. We know that He already defeated darkness and death. And we know that all who call on His Name will be saved and are given new life to walk in that victory. We live knowing that our wholeness and completion has been accomplished and we are waiting to see that fully realized when we are united with our Lord in eternity.

So why is the “-” so hard? 

That “-” is the tension of hoping or struggling for deliverance and breakthrough. Some people let the darkness of death consume their “-”, some even refuse to walk out of it into the new life when it finally comes. Some think they deserve the pain, some try to hide or distract from it, while some patiently endure. 

We all live in this tension to various degrees for most of our lives - it is what reminds us that we have to keep walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

When it seems like all is lost and there is only darkness - remember that Resurrection Day is coming! We do not walk through the valley alone; He has never and will never forsake us. Keep walking knowing that this is just the “-” before Sunday.

Blessings and Abundant Peace to you for whatever season in which you find yourself