This Holy Week leading up to Easter is a strange mixture of happy and sad, of deep sorrow and exultant joy. It is such a reflection of our lives. We go through times when we feel so disappointed and deflated. Then we have times of renewed hope and bright promise. We have all been finding as the days and affects of this pandemic have stretched on and as other crises and tragedies on the world scene have emerged that our emotions can feel like we are on a roller coaster ride. We have greeted the news of the COVID vaccines being available with relief, but then booking appointments has been challenging and concern over the ongoing availability of the vaccines is unsettling. We wonder about the length of time until second vaccines will be available. The reports on new variants have questions arising. Disturbing mass shootings remind us that violence can take human lives in an instant. Political maneuvering on the international stage has serious consequences. We experience personal heartache and illness and loss. And understandably, it is uncertain to not know what to expect next. This Holy Week includes both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It includes the most desperate of times and the most celebratory of times. Listen to what Jesus had to say to His disciples leading up to both Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, “…in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Yes, there is the despair and seeming hopelessness in our world. In the world, we will have trouble, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world and we will celebrate that with the triumphant message of Easter! Again, there is opportunity to join for WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER today, March 31st at 1 pm. You can use the prayer below and add your own prayers that God will welcome.
*A reminder that I will be sending out a service for Good Friday on Thursday evening.
Thanking God that Jesus has overcome the troubles of this world, Pastor Lola
Our God who cares so deeply for us and who has provided Jesus to be our Saviour, we are caught in this time of a wide range of emotions. We want to look with hopeful eyes toward the future yet, we know that there are troubles in this world. We experience first hand the effects of sin. This week we will live through both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We will move from a time of intense sorrow to a time of unbounded joy. This is a powerful reminder to us that the troubles of this world are no surprise to You. As we come to you in prayer, we recall Jesus Your Son facing the horror of the cross. We know that He even prayed that if it was possible that He be spared the events of Good Friday. Yet He was willing to endure this to secure our salvation. He knew that ultimately He would overcome the world, but He still had to face the cross. When we find ourselves facing what we would long to avoid, please give us Your courage and strength. When we wonder how we will ever get through, please fill us with the resolve of Jesus. It is hard to believe that Jesus can give us peace when enduring the troubles of this world. Peace does not seem like what we can expect at all when living with troubles. Yet God Your words are true. Please show us what it means and what You intend in us taking heart. This is not denial of troubles, but knowing that in the midst of hard times, You God, can and want to bring us peace. And Lord Jesus, as we anticipate what Easter means for us, we praise You that indeed you have overcome the world. You declare a message that drowns out the troubles of this world and proclaims that Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever! We bring to You now every care and every thing that threatens our faith in You. Thank You that we have learned in this past year that troubles do not snuff out our faith. We look for our wings of faith to spread widely to soar above the trouble of this world. We are praying for a heavenly perspective on every detail of our lives. We refuse to engage in the, “Isn’t it dreadful” kind of conversations that end up in hopeless despair. Instead our God of mercy, we will keep looking for the ways that You will redeem and empower and lift up and overcome the world. Thank You that our hope is centered in Jesus who has overcome sin and death on the cross and has risen triumphant over the grave. We too want to be raised up with Jesus and to know in our hearts by faith the power of His resurrection. In this Holy Week, we look to encounter in fresh ways Your Holy Presence. We want our God to listen for and to hear Your voice calling us to find our peace in You; to know and to acknowledge that in this world we will have trouble; but at the same time to rejoice Jesus that You have overcome the world! Please use us in every way that You intend to be Your ambassadors in overcoming the gloom that encircles those overwhelmed by the troubles of this world. We look to you Jesus and hear You encouraging us to remember that You have overcome the world. We do not have to long for a solution. You have already provided one and so we look to You Jesus to carry out your overcoming power wherever needed. We bring every detail of our lives to You, in the all powerful name of Jesus, our Overcomer. AMEN.