A few years ago, I had the opportunity to listen to a great author and speaker, John Ortberg, at a conference. He spoke about the three days of the death of Christ. Actually, he spoke more about the second day, the day where everything was still, quiet, dark. He remarked on how when we go through a crisis in our life there are three days: the day the event takes place (Day 1), the middle (Day 2) and then the resurrection (Day 3). As we walk through this week, Holy week, remembering the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf, I am reminded what it means to sit on Day 2 where everything is dark and still.
Many times, throughout our lives we need to endure and overcome difficult situations. It may be that the difficult situation was brought on by our own choices or it may be that we had no choice in it at all. Either way, we are left to sit and wait until the resurrection or release of our situation occurs. Waiting can be torture in and of itself. For many, the holidays, a time that should be filled with celebration and rejoicing is wrought with pain.
If you find yourself needing to survive the dark during this week leading up to Easter, here are a few points to keep in mind. While these points won’t solve the issues that are underlying in your pain, hopefully, they will bring you some relief as you sit in your Day 2.
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- Focus: Look towards the light and the One who can give you the light. Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
- Remember: You are not alone. During the resurrection story, we hear nothing from the Scriptures about what happened on Day 2. However, if we were to imagine, the followers of Christ were gathered together to bring both comfort and companionship to each other. The author in Hebrews 13:5 states, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
- Focus: Turn your mind towards what you can do in your situation. It is a mighty thing to actually “make the best out of a bad situation”. In Colossians 3:2, the author challenges us to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
- Remember: When you grieve, the Lord grieves with you and has compassion for you. James 5:11c states that, “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” Isaiah 49:13b states that “the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”
- Focus: Acknowledge that this is a difficult time. Be honest with yourself about the darkness while focusing on the light that will come. Jesus told his disciplines in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
- Remember: The dark only last for a short time. There is light around the corner, the resurrection is coming. In speaking to his disciples, Christ comforts them in saying, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)
Feel as if you’ve been there, done that? Then meet with your Pastor or Priest and discuss with them the difficult season you are in. Need more than an empathic ear? Contact a therapist who can sit with you in the dark.
There is light after the dark. Day 3 will come. You are not alone. Remember, you are not alone.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
*All scripture references for this post were taken from the New International Version.
