Here we are in the midst of Holy Week, the week Christians remember the central event of all history, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. That brief segment of time, a mere week, changed the world forever in a way that nothing else ever could. Last week, during worship, we considered the stories of Holy Week, observing that a close reading of the individuals described in the stories illustrates that no matter what we are experiencing, feeling or thinking, there was somebody in those stories to whom we can relate, and who set an example for us, some bad examples and some good examples. It certainly provides a powerful paradigm for those facing the vicissitudes of divorce.As we read the stories of Holy Week, we encounter individuals who were fearful, individuals whose future was jeopardized, individuals who experienced great hope only to find it dashed to the ground, and then there are those who are energized, renewed and find new meaning in life, a new meaning that can only be described through the power of resurrection!
If during this Holy Week you find yourself caught up in tough times, especially the tough times of divorce, I encourage you to find yourself in the stories, and make sure that you see it through to the end. Perhaps the Easter resurrection will manifest itself in your life through the wonder of a marriage restored, reenergized and filled with new life. On the other hand, perhaps your divorce journey will go through the dark days where the rays of the sun are blocked by darkness ending with the darkness of the grave for a marriage long dead. But on the other side, you can trust that God’s resurrection power can lead you to a new life that is unimaginable in the days of darkness. Even though you have struggled through the agonizing loss of a marriage, that does not mean God is not done with your life, nor does it mean that he no longer plans great things for your life. It just means you have to wait, trust and hope for the power of the resurrection to flood into your life in ways that are as unbelievable as a crucified Messiah rising from the dead to bring sinners like us into eternal glory! Hang on! Resurrection comes to those who trust and wait.