Have you ever sent your child somewhere you couldn’t go with them? This morning I loaded my firstborn in the van and drove him, along with the rest of his team, to the Atlanta airport to send him off to Guatemala for a spring break mission trip. I wanted to go with him, but I knew in my heart he was being called by the Father to do this alone. He will be separated from me for a while. It will be hard knowing he will go through some things I will not experience with him. I will not be able to reach him or communicate with him where he’s going. I know he will return to me in a few days and the results from his going will be huge for him and others. So, with the twinge of heart only a parent can understand, I took him and let him go.
Today is Good Friday. It is the day our Lord Jesus Christ gave up His life for all of our sins so we could be with Him for all eternity [John 3:16]. He knew where He was going and knew it might not always be pleasant, but He was committed to do the work His Father had called Him to do [John 13:30-35]. The Father knew there would be a time His Son would be separated from Him and He would not be communicating with Him but they would have communion restored [Isaiah 53:2-12].
God’s ways of doing things don’t always make sense to us. His ways are most assuredly not like our way [Isaiah 55:8]. What some viewed as Jesus being murdered was actually Jesus surrendering His life [John 10:15, 10:17; John 15:13; and 1 John 3:16]. He laid it down for us; no one took it from Him. What appeared to be the end of the ministry of Christ truly became the turning point and the beginning of Christianity and the Church.
When things look bleak or seem difficult for you and you’ve prayed and asked for the Father to intervene and nothing appears to be changing, ask Him to show you what He’s doing. He may be more actively involved than you realize. It may be the very turning point in your life situation and He may be about to reveal His glory in a whole new way to you.
May you feel His presence with you throughout this day and may He reveal Himself to you in new and exciting ways through this Easter weekend. Ask Him to awaken your spirit to all He is doing and open your eyes to see Him at work in your life and the world around you. Then hold on tight, because you will experience the ride of your life. Happy Easter! Hallelujah! He is risen! He is risen indeed!