Darkness is temporary. Hope is Eternal!

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Luke 23:50-56 NIV)

The time after Jesus took his last breath to the morning on the third day has to be a dark and terrible time. Joseph handled the gruesome task of burial and the followers of Jesus were scattered. After Jesus was laid to rest, was a time of severe mourning and loss. I can only imagine the hopelessness of the moment. While we love the story because we know the result, it had to be the worst hopelessness felt by these people.

While you are in the midst of turmoil and darkness you just need to move forward. It's impossible to do anything more than what is absolutely necessary. Even the most mundane tasks take all your energy to complete. It's difficult to see any hope for the future and you just live in the moment. 

There is hope. I have 53+ year of life to verify this is true. I have had some dark times in my life and the Risen Savior has brought me through to brighter days. I am getting better at turning life's trials over to Jesus. It is amazing how hope returns when you let the crisis go! The message of Easter is hope. We are not alone. We are not at the end. We are at the beginning if we turn the darkness of our lives over to the Son of God. When we have left everything, then we can begin to live again. There is hope through Jesus.