The struggle

During Easter week there is one day that is left out.  It's this day, Saturday.  Friday is the celebration of the passion, the day Christ died and Sunday is Easter, the day of resurrection, but Saturday is missing...both in the bible story and in our own narratives.  

What happened on Saturday?  It must have been the most terrible Sabbath for the disciples.  It was a day of struggle, a day of despair, a time of fear, of self-doubt.  I can't even imagine the thoughts they struggled with...

....did we follow the wrong guy?
....what has just happened, we thought Jesus was the Messiah.
....how could so many who were healed by Jesus turn on him like this?
....what do we do now?
....are we next?
....how can we ever trust anyone again?

The questions, the doubts, the struggles must have been overwhelming.  They always are.  Between a time of great loss...on our way to faith and victory is "the struggle", that time when we question everything! Was I wrong? Where was God? Doesn't he love me? How could he let this happen? We thought we had followed the right path....why did he allow THIS?

The loss is always bad, but the time of struggle before we see the resurrection is the darkest time in our walk with God.  It's what David called "the valley of the shadow of death".  It's that time of darkness, doubt, despair and confusion.

But wait a day, tomorrow something will happen that will change everything!  They won't believe it even when they see it!  When resurrection happens in our lives the time of struggle is overwhelmed and overshadowed by the bright glory of God's redemptive work.  The contrast is amazing!  

Between our loss and the time when we see what God is doing is always that time of struggle.  It's the Saturday between good Friday and Easter.  It's the darkest day you will ever experience.  In that time never forget 12 men who wondered if they had made a terrible mistake, never forget that Easter is coming....just wait!  

When Easter comes the time of struggle will be so forgotten that it won't even be mentioned....just as it's been completely left out of the story of Jesus.  What happened on Saturday?  Who cares!  Look at what happened on Sunday!!!