Easter Sunday Writing... 4-12-20... "MIXED EMOTIONS"

Good Easter morning!

Alleluia - He is risen!  He is risen indeed - Alleluia!  In today's writing, "MIXED EMOTIONS," we look at what the women who went to the tomb on Sunday morning after the crucifixion were experiencing and feeling.  We compare that to how we have similar emotions going on, and how the Savior relates to that.

Easter blessings to you and yours,
Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"MIXED EMOTIONS" 

by 

Jan Andersen 

That first Sunday morning after the crucifixion started out with great sorrow and mourning over the death of Jesus by his followers.  They were stunned at his crucifixion and bewildered by his death and seeming abandonment of them.  They could not comprehend that He needed to die so young and so horrifically.  They had thought he had come to be a king, to provide them with earthly victory.  It was a punch to the gut they hadn’t seen coming.  The future was uncertain in their minds.  Their emotions were a mixture of sorrow, fear, bewilderment, abandonment, confusion, pain and uncertainty. 

Many people are currently dealing with mixed emotions.  No one anticipated being sheltered in place, wearing masks, and businesses being shut down.  Many are bewildered by how quickly they have lost income and suddenly face tough choices of food versus shelter versus health care.  Others were already in this place of despair!  Feelings of abandonment by God abound.  It is hard to comprehend why things happen sometimes.  The future is always uncertain and mixed emotions are rampant.   

The women who went to Jesus’ tomb with spices and perfume for his dead body were deeply sorrowful. There was uncertainty in how they would get into the grave with the large stone blocking the opening.  Then fear set in when they saw an angel open the tomb and confusion that the body was gone.  They were greeted with a wonderful message that Jesus had risen, and they ran away full of fear and bewilderment, yet also great joy and excitement.  Then they had to deal with the disciples rejection of their message.  They experienced sorrow and joy, uncertainty and disbelief.  Such a confusing time of mixed emotions!   

Matthew 28:5-6, 8 ESV  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay…  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 

We, too, are experiencing confusing times.  We are trying to go about our normal activities where possible, even while dealing with significant challenges .  The stresses of the workplace for many have been exchanged for the stresses of home life with everyone under one roof all day long.  Yet for some it is a welcome relief to be away from work and closer to family.  People are finding new and exciting ways to socially connect with friends and family as well as strangers, while remaining physically distant.  Churches are being forced to figure out new ways to connect with their congregants and beyond, through computers to a large degree, and are finding their influence growing.  At the same time there is concern about finances for the churches.  Some have said the churches are not closed, they are just deployed in a new way to minister to the world!  Mixed emotions abound of fear and joy, and so many more.

There is nothing wrong with having all these different emotions.  It is not wrong to feel joy in your situation when others are feeling fear.  It is ok to have mixed emotions within ourselves as well.  Allow yourself to feel them without heaping guilt on top of them.  That is how we move forward and through them with resilience.  Our Lord understands and experienced mixed emotions as well as he hung on the cross out of great love for each one of us.  He even felt forsaken by God the Father as death loomed over him.  Yet He knew the great joy that would be His in 3 days, when He would rise from the dead to eternal life so that you and I can also live eternally if we believe.  Alleluia! - He is risen!  He is risen indeed - Alleluia!

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for your Son’s death and resurrection which brings us eternal life with You in heaven by grace through faith.  Even though we experience mixed emotions, help us to trust in You at all times.  In the name of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!     

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Song:

HOW CAN IT BE

Lauren Daigle

(This song highlights the mixed emotions of guilt and forgiveness 

made possible through Jesus giving his life for us.) 

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries.

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