It doesn’t  make sense to see Job losing everything. Not until in the midst of his grief he was able to experience God as he never had before (Job 42:5).

Nor does it make sense for some young to be thrown into a fiery furnace because of their faith. Not until the king that order the process saw one like the Son of God walking among them in the fire, and all of them  and then saw the young emerge unharmed from the fire (Daniel 3:14-28).

It makes no sense to see the Son of God dying on the cross. Not until three days later he rose from the death, bringing hope of eternal life to mankind (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Nor does it make sense the number of people that has died because of their faith. It could look like their lives ended without a purpose.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth… And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. – Hebrews 11:13-16

It makes no sense when we lose a loved one, or when we get sick, or when financial troubles come, or when we are in conflict.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord – Isaiah 55:8

Our ability to understand the situation does not change the reality of what God is doing in those who love Him. What looks like an uncertain future in our eyes, for God is sealed a victory - a done deal.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

No matter how confused I am, I can keep going receiving the peace that I get as a result of having my eyes on Jesus, recognizing that no matter what happens He already conquered victory, and therefore I shall conquer in Him. Now things do not make sense, but at some point I’ll look back and there will be no words of concern but only words of thanks to my God.

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days … and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. – John 11:17-21

Sometimes we do like Martha; we blame God for not having arrived in time. When we have difficult situations we think we know what God is supposed to do to solve our problem.

God always knows what is best for us. In the case of Martha she thought the solution was for Jesus to heal his brother when he was sick. It seems logical, but logic is not always in accordance with the plans and the will of God. The plan of Martha was the miracle of healing, but in the plans of Jesus was a larger sample of the power of God through the resurrection of her brother.

If Jesus had acted according to Marta’s plans there had been a miracle, but all of us would have missed seeing the glory of God manifested by raising Lazarus from the death after four days.

Often, God’s intervention does not happen the way we expected, but even if we don’t understand we can trust that God’s plan for our lives will always be better than ours.

We might not receive the miracle we hoped for, but if we stand firm in the faith we will receive the greatest miracle of all: eternal life. Even Lazarus died again, which eventually will happen to all of us, but our final day in this world will only mean the greater glory of living forever in the presence of our God.

If you feel disappointed because you did not receive what you expected, I invite you to make yours the words of the psalmist: “Why are you downcast, O my soul, Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 43:5).

Early on the first day of the week… Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to their homes. – John 20:1,3-10

Many things happened in the lives of the disciples in the days before the first day of the week.  The disciples were going through a very difficult time. They had just witnessed the death of their teacher.  Although Jesus said that he would rise from the dead, they really had not processed that information in their hearts. So it was probably a time of deep sadness and despair, as they were not sure what would happen to them.  Two of the disciples went to the tomb, saw it empty, and believed. However, when they returned to their homes, they locked their doors because of fear of the Jews.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews – John 20:19a

Did their faith fail? Sometimes problems cloud our understanding. Lets be honest: we can go through a great spiritual experience in the morning, and then act as if there was no hope a few hours later. I guess it is human nature. In the midst of a problem we all lock our “doors”.

when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. – John 20:19b-20a

The good news is that if you have a relationship with Jesus, he will show up even if your doors are locked. He knows how we feel, and he knows our weaknesses, so he will not show up to ask us why we locked our doors. He will show up to bring his peace to our troubled hearts.

What would have been your reaction if you were in that locked room when Jesus showed up?

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. – John 20:20b

Overjoyed is a good word to identify the feeling (or maybe any of its synonyms: charmed, delighted, deliriously happy, elated, euphoric, happy as a clam, happy as a lark, joyful, jubilant, on cloud nine, only too happy, over the moon, rapturous, ravished, thrilled, tickled pink, transported). It doesn’t matter the circumstances that we are going through, that same joy is available to us.

Are your doors still locked? Don’t lose your hope. Jesus will show up, and you will be able to experience his peace.