It's Friday But Sunday's a Coming!

He died. Stone cold dead.

Death has a way of paralyzing humans regardless of most circumstances. It is where we meet our mortality. All of us will die.

When Jesus died, there must have been great confusion for the disciples and followers. They had seen him heal the sick. They had witnessed his miracles. The disciples were convinced death would not come even though Jesus spoke of it. They could not believe their eyes. "What now?" they must have asked themselves.

In these moments of confusion, one can do great harm to one's self. The inability to make decisions, the lack of self care, or withdrawal from life can have a devastating affect on our relationships. It is one of the most dangerous times in our life in terms of emotional, spiritual and physical health. If you find yourself responding in this manner, please reach out! Find someone who can lead you to a new place or space in life.

The death of a child is one of the most significant events in life. I did not realize how much so until I watched my parents struggle with the death of my two sisters. Life was out of order. Parents are not supposed to bury their children. Parents are supposed to watch their children grow up. Children are supposed to bury parents.

The only way out of the paralysis and despair is through Christian hope. Christian hope believes that death does not have the final word. Christian hope walks us through the valley--it does not leave us in the valley. Christian hope assures us that the loved one is safe and secure. God does not leave God's children.

But yet, the Christian faith has to have the Good Fridays of life. It is there that we realize just how deep God's love is for all of the world. The death of Jesus points us to our own death but also it points us to our own eternal life. There is a famous sermon delivered years ago by an African American pastor that proclaimed the darkness of Friday--Mary crying, the suffering of Jesus, the despair of the disciples. But then he proclaims the hope--it's Friday but Sunday is a comin!

God is not finished. God will see us through the darkness that comes before the dawn. It's Friday, but Sunday's a comin!