Without the resurrection, Good Friday is not good at all. It’s painful. It’s miserable. It’s is the worst day you may have ever had. There is nothing beautiful or wonderful about the cross.
Yet the resurrection changes everything. The cross without the resurrection is a cosmic wreck. Yet the resurrection brings life from death. It brings joy from sorrow. It makes something ugly beautiful. It is God making the best out of the worst. It is the Lord of all reaching down into the worst and saying, “even this I can use for my glory and the good of the world.”
I have heard countless stories over my time walking with the Lord about people who were going through the worst and God redeemed it into something wonderful. The one that comes to mind the most is the story of a friend of mine Rick Pearson. Rick was an amazing worship leader in Atlanta and a friend.
A few years back Rick contracted Leukemia. He fought long and hard against it but ended up going home to be with the Lord. Before he slipped into a coma, Rick had a chance to share his faith with his father who did not know Jesus Christ and let him know that no matter how the battle ended, he wins.
At the funeral Rick’s dad told one of the preachers there that he believed that this battle Rick went through happen for a reason, and he believed he was that reason. Later that night Rick’s dad went to his hotel and put his faith in Jesus Christ. And I am sure Rick rejoiced with the angels in heaven in that moment. All Rick ever wanted was to be used mightily by God to change people’s lives. And even in his transition to eternal life, he did that very thing in his own father’s life.
Whatever we are in, know that God can redeem that. It can become something beautiful if we will just lean into and trust Him in the middle of the worst knowing that we worship an Overcoming Savior.
For God
For People
For the Nations
For the Kingdom
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