Easter Hope, Just for You

If Easter didn’t happen, we would all be in an eternally sad state of hopelessness. But—and of course this is the “but” upon which the entire course of history pivots—Easter did happen.

And because of that, we do have hope—in our joy, in our grief, in our anxiety, in our uncertainty. On our best days and our worst days. During the seasons of life that seem to go on forever and those that seem to be over before they’ve even started.

I don’t know where you find yourself this week before Easter, but it’s my prayer that the following quotes and verses will meet you where you are and perhaps even rekindle hope in your heart—the kind that can only be found in Jesus, our living hope.

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“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said; if He didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what He said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like His teaching but whether or not He rose from the dead.” ~ Timothy Keller in The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

“Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)

 “The New Testament writers speak as if Christ’s achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the ‘first fruits,’ the pioneer of life,’ He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so.” ~ C.S. Lewis in Miracles

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)

“The cross is not a defeat, but a victory. It is the dramatic reassertion of the fact that God’s love is sovereign, that the rulers of the world do not have the last word, that the kingdom of God has defeated the kingdom of Satan, that the kingdoms of the world have now become, in principle, the kingdom of our God, and of His Messiah: and He shall reign for ever and ever.” N. T. Wright in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter

“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and Last. I am the living one. I died, but look–I am alive forever and ever!” (Revelation 1:17b-18a)

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To bring this pre-Easter collection of hope to a close, here is a moving rendition of the beautiful modern hymn, “He Will Hold Me Fast.”

If you watch, you might notice that this video is dated Feb. 13, 2020. God has held us fast since then, and He will continue to do so, come what may.

Happy Easter, dear friends.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.

Photo by Molly Flowers