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Written by A.B. Simpson (1843-1919), a Canadian preacher, theologian, and author.

In the old creation, the week began with work and ended with Sabbath rest. The resurrection week begins with the first day-first rest, then labor. So we must first cease from our own works as God did from His, and enter into His rest. And then, with rested hearts, we will work His works with effectual power. But why labor to enter into rest? See that sailing craft — how restfully it glides over the waters, its canvas swelling with the wind and borne without an effort! And yet, look at that man at the helm. See how firmly he holds the rudder, bearing against the wind, and holding her steady to her position. Let him for a moment relax his steady hold and the vessel will fall listlessly along the wind. The sails will flap, the waves will toss the craft at their will, and all rest and power will have gone. It is the fixed helm that brings the steadying power of the wind. The steady will and stayed heart are ours. The keeping is the Lord’s. So let us labor to enter and abide in His rest.

Rest in the Lord [Psalm 37:1-7]

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Written by Ole Hallesby (1879-1961), a Norwegian theologian and author.    This is an excerpt from his book “Prayer.”

Unbelief is something very different from doubt. Unbelief is an attribute of the will, and consists in a man’s refusal to believe, that is, refusal to see his own need, acknowledge his helplessness, go to Jesus, and speak candidly and confidently with him about his sin and distress. Doubt, on the other hand, is an anguish, a pain, a weakness, which at times affects our faith. We could therefore call it Faith Distress: Faith Anguish, Faith Suffering, Faith Tribulation. Such faith illness can be more or less painful and more or less protracted, like all other ailments, but if we can begin to look upon it as suffering that has been laid upon us, it will lose its sting of distress and confusion.

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” [Mark 9:24]

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Written by Richard Foster, a contemporary theologian and author.

May God give you the gift of tears. As you walk on this tired and sad earth, may you have the gift of weeping, of a soft heart.

Jesus wept.  [John 11:35]

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Written by John Ortberg, a contemporary pastor, author, and speaker.

When you make a mistake today (and you will), avoid frustration or self-condemnation, and say, “How fascinating!” This shifts your perspective from failure to curiosity. Seek growth, not perfection.Take steps to become a curious learner in your work, relationships, and faith. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re likely not stretching yourself enough.  Don’t avoid difficult situations, lean into them with the expectation that they will make you stronger and wiser. Encourage others. When you see someone else make a mistake, remind them that growth comes through learning. Be a voice of grace and encouragement.   

There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [Romans 8:1]

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Written by the Lead Like Jesus team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus

What kinds of words cause you to rise to a challenge? The exact words may differ from person to person, but typically they can be categorized as words of hope, encouragement, and belief. When we hear trusted friends and associates verbalize their faith in us, those words continue to ring deeply in the well of our souls. They echo back to us long past the moment when they were uttered, becoming a source of ongoing encouragement and motivation. Jesus believes in you today; let His voice drown out the voice of discouragement with words of hope. Take courage and be strong!

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  [Psalm 43:5]

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Written by Doug Webster, a contemporary pastor and founder of Jesuscollege.com.

Jesus offers in the reality of His present Kingdom a good life of a good person who avoids a troubled life as a broken person. He teaches us to live under an open Heaven right here, right now “On Earth as it is in Heaven”. Eternal life starts immediately in the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Blessed salvation is not delayed until life after death.

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.‘ [Luke 17:20-21]

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Written by A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), a pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor. This is an excerpt from his book “The Knowledge of the Holy.”

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God…That our idea of God correspond as nearly as possible to the true being of God is of immense importance to us…Our real idea of God may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God…Low views of God destroy the gospel for all who hold them.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. [2 Peter 3:18]

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Written by Ruth Boven, a contemporary pastor.

Living God, our hearts are lifted to you in praise and thanks that the grave could not hold our Lord Jesus. He is risen! Help us to live joyfully, hopefully, and boldly in the power of his resurrection. Amen.

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!  [Luke 24:5-6]

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Written by Erin Jean Warde, a contemporary author.

I believe one of the greatest challenges of the human life is the experience of sitting inside pain and grief. I find that when I am entombed in my suffering, my prayers take the form of questions as I ask God to offer me the compassion, tenderness, and deliverance I thought I could count on when I first believed.  There is something about that middle place, the place where my faith and my reality feel deeply at odds, where I am forced to wrestle with doubt knowing that the tussle won’t tear me from my belief, but instead that it will somehow join me to a God who can survive the fight.  The remembrance that my love for God and God’s love for me can survive the conflict is, in and of itself, a form of belief, as it means that instead of disappearing from God entirely I stay connected, because even when my prayers are questions they are passionate, as they are born out of my desire to be connected to God, to feel the love of God, not to leave God and my faith…Holy Saturday invites us to be honest about the reality of our suffering, the prayers we pray out of conflict, the ways we tussle with the tension between our faith and the reality of life before us. The gift of Holy Saturday is that we are able to behold the dead body of Jesus and know that, against all odds, there is a way out of the tomb.  When we are in our own sufferings, feeling so covered in the reality of death and suffering that we can almost smell the spices that promise we are given into decay, we can remember that this day is not the last day.  There is a tomorrow that will greet us at dawn with the compassion, tenderness, and deliverance of God.

My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.  [Matthew 29:39b]

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Written by Vickie Stone from the Village Church

1995 was Lorrie’s diagnosis.  She did not know it at the time, but my 35-year-old sister, would have a 5-year battle with breast cancer. Her medical team would tell her, great news: your lymph nodes are clear. They would label her cancer in remission, only to later tell her the cancer had returned and spread to her lungs. And then to her liver. This was so wrong. She was young. Her kiddos were so little, just 3 years and 8 years old at her diagnosis.  I was barely back to California from a wonderful trip to Australia, when my brother-in-law Tom told me I should come; the doctors said the disease was progressing. Lorrie, true to her form, had not wanted to “interrupt my special trip” with her latest disease challenge. I left for Ohio immediately. Visiting was hard, we all just wanted to wave a magical wand and return her health to her. Our family was numb and simply lost without our Lorrie, our social director. Lorrie, always the organizer, making plans for our family’s outings and celebrations. How could she be taken from us? She was so needed here. I had so many questions for God as anyone does when they see someone taken so young. A few weeks later, after the funeral, I was back in California, trying to figure out a future without my big sis, my childhood partner in crime, my matchmaker, and my confidant. The phone rang. My best friend in Ohio insisted she had to share what had transpired with her 5-year-old daughter.  Her daughter says to her, as they are walking up the stairs in their home, “Lorrie is talking to me.” My friend was naturally quite surprised, yet curious so she simply said: “Oh? What is she saying to you?” The little one, matter of factly replies, “She is telling me that we should be crying only tears of joy!” This little girl’s message provided my entire family such comfort. It was a mystery we gratefully took at face value. Lorrie was letting us know…she was in His glory, she was fine, and she wanted us to be too. Indeed!

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. [Psalm 16:11]

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