It’s Holy Week. A culmination of days where Jesus was arrested, crucified, laid to rest in a tomb, and brought back to life in the span of 3 days. We celebrate. We cheer. We rejoice over dead things coming back to life.
But wait…
Just a little while longer…
There’s something more to this story.
Jesus died on a Friday. They killed him intentionally before sundown so the Jewish people would be ushered into Sabbath, unable to do anything but wait… mourn… wonder… grieve… pause.
On the Sabbath, people were forbidden from doing even the smallest things. They couldn’t go stand by the tomb. They couldn’t make themselves busy or distracted. They had to sit with the sorrow and ponder it. Face it. Live with it. Not knowing that a Sunday was coming.
Jesus could have rose from the dead instantly. That could have been the story. But God carved out space for a Saturday— a day where faith was shaky and many probably questioned, “Where is God in all of this?”
The fact that there is a Saturday wedged between the day of crucifixion and the day of resurrection is proof to me that we love a God who is close to the brokenhearted. Close to the waiting. Close to the ones walking a path of uncertainty and turmoil.
It’s okay if your faith is suspended in Saturday right now.
God is close. He is kind. He is in this chaos.
God mourns with you.
He grieves with you.
God sees you in your hopefulness and when you have no hope to speak of.
God is not phased by your exhaustion. He’s not asking you to get stronger.
He’s bending low and whispering, “I will fight for you- you need only be still, my love.”
Saturday is not the end.
Sunday is coming.
Hold tight.
Got me crying on a Wednesday morning before work, Hannah!! “God is not phased by your exhaustion.” I know everyone is busy so it feels dumb to say “I’m so busy right now” but we are in the midst of buying a new house and selling our current one at the same time, all while going through fertility treatments, and extremely busy times at work. I’m exhausted and felt the weight of it this morning, feeling like I would be crushed if one more thing was added to my plate today. And then I got hit with the truth that God is not phased by my exhaustion. How beautiful is that? He will carry me and be my strength. What a beautiful reminder as we walk into Easter weekend – praying to focus on Christ and His death and resurrection instead of myself in the coming days!
Yes! This! Just like Paul said, "I boast in my weakness." You can absolutely boast in your exhaustion because when you are weak, God is strong in you! Keep going, babe.
“He’s not asking you to get stronger.”
Well that’s a new thought. I spend so much time and energy trying to get better, recover, get back to normal, … he doesn’t need that. He can handle me just like I am.
He absolutely can. But you’re not alone- something I often have to remind myself of daily!
Hannah! I LOVE THIS!! Saturday has always been my favorite part of this weekend coming up, a reminder that in the waiting, it’s not done in vain because He is coming. There is a “between” and in that between-spot, He is near. Thank you so much for your words!
Totally with you!!
So much love for this, I don’t even have words. ❤️ Sunday is indeed coming. Praise God.
Yes, yes, yes!
Oof… needed to read this. Thank you for sharing and for the blog.
Of course! Can’t wait to cultivate this space!
Thank you for that timely reminder of God’s unfailing love.
My honor!
Just what I needed on this Good Friday and in my life in general!!!!
Thank you for being here!
Your words always give me peace and hope. Thank you Hannah.
I’m so honored! Thank you!
Beautiful sentiments, thank you. Happy Easter to you and your family.
Thank you! To yours as well!!!
yippee!! you can now pin your articles so everyone can read your wonderful words of wisdom
YESSS!!
Beautiful and touching! Thank you. I enjoy your writings and feel encouraging. You are a blessing!
Thank you for being here, Marina!
Just what I needed to read today, even if it is after Easter. So thankful God is a God who loves us no matter what state we are in. Thank you for sharing!
It’s an everyday kind of message- preaching it to myself continually!
hb.
This message is just as relevant today as it was when I first read it !
Thank you
So timely for me today. Thank you