From Death To Life

Today has been a day of death. Two relationships have officially ended. It was also officially my last day of work at a place I loved. All three deaths were painful to my heart. Two of these deaths I initiated, one I had to accept. Nevertheless, I find my sacrifices crucifying my heart to a cross. 

Today is my "Good Friday." 

It seems strange to refer to so much pain as good. Let me assure you, it is far from good. I'm immensely sad. My heart is bleeding. I want the sorrow to end.

Yet, it is a sorrow I need to endure. Just as Jesus chose to sacrifice His life and die for our salvation, sometimes in life, we must also choose to kill off what is not producing the life God wants us to have. 

It's never easy. It hurts. But it's necessary.

I won't give details regarding the relationships that have ended because I respect the privacy of others. I will say that sometimes people are only in your life for a reason and a season. And when those reasons and seasons have passed, we must learn to not hold on to what doesn't belong in the next chapters of our lives. Whether it was their choice or yours to end the relationship, we have to be just as willing to let go of them as we are willing to break those ties.

We must also understand that death isn't the end. The burial of a seed is the beginning of a new harvest. If we only focused on the seed being buried, we can never appreciate the harvest it produces and how it blesses our lives. 

Jesus resurrected after His Good Friday. The ENTIRE purpose of His Good Friday was for His resurrection. It was necessary to bring forth the victory God had planned all along.

If the Lord permits me to see Monday, it will be part of my "Resurrection Sunday." You see, I had to leave a job I love because an amazing new opportunity came into my life and I begin a new job on Monday. One that will benefit my life, children & future. Not only is this new job a wonderful opportunity in and of itself, but it will also has the potential to help kick start a dream that I never thought would come to fruition.

I don't know what will come of my ended relationships, but I do trust that God will never let it be a meaningless loss. Something good will come from the sacrifice of letting go. 

You see, God will never have us sacrifice for nothing. He is a loving and giving God. What He puts to death is to bring forth a better life, calling, future, character, ministry, relationship, career, Kingdom. Our "Good Fridays" are never in vain and if we just wait a little while, we can fully expect our "Resurrection Sundays" and all the rejoicing that comes with the victory.

For the Lord will not cast off forever,  but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. 

My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite, until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees; my eyes cause me grief at the fate of all the daughters of my city. 

I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ 

 “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.

Lamentations 3: 31-58