By Carey Nieuwhof, Teaching Pastor
Have circumstances ever gotten so terrible for you that you thought “There's no way God could possibly be present?”
I've wondered that at times. Honestly, I think most of us have.
Maybe you've
Lost your job
Had someone very close to you die tragically
Seen your family fall apart
And you ask yourself: “Where is God…and why does it feel like he's losing?”
Today is Good Friday.
Today we stare into the jaws of a profound and powerful mystery.
On Good Friday, as Jesus hung on the cross, it seemed like God was losing.
Imagine standing at the foot of the cross and seeing a man you thought might have been from God hanging there like a common criminal, dying.
Imagine seeing Jesus taken down from the cross, his body lifeless.
If I was there, I could only help but conclude that God had lost.
But, of course, I would have been wrong.
The very moment it appeared that God was losing, God was winning.
[bctt tweet=”Good Friday shows us that the very moment it appeared that God was losing, God was winning.”]
He took the worst the world could throw at Jesus—death—and turned it into life.
So what are you struggling with?
My guess is you may have drawn the conclusion that God is losing.
He's not.
As the cross showed us so powerfully, the moment it appeared by every account that God was losing, he was actually securing the most dramatic victory in human history—our redemption.
So this Good Friday, bring the worst circumstance you face and trust God with it. Tell him you feel like you're losing, but you are going to trust he's winning.
Death is not the final word.
Life is.
Love is.
Jesus is.
Trust that.
[bctt tweet=”Death is not the final word. Life is. Love is. Jesus is.”]
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You're invited to join us today at Connexus for Good Friday services at 9:00 and 10:30 at our locations in Barrie and Orillia. Despite the weather, our services are on. We'll be reflecting on the meaning of Jesus' death and love for us, and will be celebrating communion.
Then join us for Easter Sunday services at 9:00 and 10:30 at our locations in Barrie and Orillia. You can get more information, including directions, here.
If you’re out of town, you can join us Easter Sunday at 9 and 10:30 a.m. for Connexus Live Online. Click here to watch the live stream Easter Sunday morning. You'll be able to experience the entire 70 minute live Easter service with us from your phone, tablet or computer.
