Friday Faith

He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

John 19:26

Trusting God during good times is a little like riding a bike downhill; sometimes we can almost coast. But when the path is uphill, we have to flex our faith muscles, knowing sooner or later we’ll arrive at the mountaintop with its far-reaching vistas. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and His followers experienced such a faith workout when He was crucified.

When Gabriel first visited Mary with news about the Christ child, she said, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). A few months later, old Simeon warned her that a sword would one day pierce her heart (Luke 2:34). No one could have foreseen how deeply the sword would pierce on that Good Friday. But approximately thirty-nine hours later, Mary’s heaviness was lifted, her faith was fulfilled, her hope was realized, her joy was restored, and her Son was risen. Like Mary’s, our personal Good Fridays don’t feel good, but they are good for our faith, giving us strength to believe and please God. Faith is the capacity to keep going between Good Friday and Easter sunrise.

Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.

WATCHMAN NEE