During Easter, I was meditating on the resurrection passage, “the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with great joy.” It occurred to me that when the women heard the news that Jesus had risen they had mixed emotions.
Traveling through this unknown valley of cancer with my daughter, there have been many times we have been "afraid yet filled with great joy." It is only natural that our emotions react to disturbing news because of the endorphins that our brain releases. How we react to or respond to these emotions depends on the foundation we have based our life on. You can choose to react in anger and hopelessness or you can respond to the truth of what God's Word promises.
The women were afraid when the angel appeared to them but they were filled with great joy because Jesus was alive not dead. This seems to be exactly what we have experienced. Cancer is bad. The news is bad. It is like getting gut-punched. You can’t eat or sleep, your brain goes crazy with “what if”. Then you remember “Jesus is alive.” He created us. He loves us. He died for us. He was resurrected for us. When we trust Him, we remember He has a plan for us. Cancer is bad but God is good. That is our foundation. When you trust in what you know and believe to be the truth then you are filled with great joy. In your fear you can also be filled with great joy.
What are you afraid of today? Finances. Health. Being alone. Sad. Depressed. Your dreams shattered. Addictions. Angry. Whether your fear is for yourself or for someone else, there is reason to have great joy. The women went to tell everyone Jesus is risen. What He said is true.
So when you see or hear frightening news, remember the hope we have in Jesus. He is never going to leave us. He knows. He has a plan.
May your day be filled with the same kind of joy these women experienced after they were afraid.
