As we approach Easter this year, we can all agree that it looks a lot different than normal. By this time last year, the stores were full of people last minute shopping for Easter baskets, dresses, and white sweaters. (Anyone else’s mom buy them a white sweater before Easter Sunday?) This year most of our churches won’t be together physically. It has already been weeks since we have been together for small groups, or youth groups, or just hanging out with friends.Many of the girls we pour into and serve are falling apart because of social distancing. They are posting about how lonely they are, and how much they hate being quarantined. And it certainly doesn’t feel like there is a lot of good news on the news channels and on social media.We are all in need of some good news and I believe that we as leaders, mentors, and parents have been positioned to point our girls back to the ultimate good news—the gospel. So with our new perspective in this season, let’s remind our girls that the doom and gloom from the coronavirus doesn’t stand a chance in lieu of what follows Good Friday.
Hope follows
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. —Psalm 31:24
Peace follows
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33
Redemption follows
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. —Ephesians 1:7
Forever follows
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. —Psalm 23:6
From the cancellation of proms and sporting events to the waving goodbye to a normal school year, our girls have been left to deal with an incredible amount of loss and uncertainty. But I believe we can validate their losses by encouraging, listening, and speaking truth about what we as believers gained on what looked and felt like an extremely dark Friday.Take a few minutes, open your Bible (or Bible app) and read Mark 15:33-47. Let this passage simmer. In Jesus there is no “dark Friday.” Instead, it was the beginning of Light crushing darkness once and for all. Y’all that is good news.Good Friday is the springboard of sharing the gospel—the good news that darkness didn’t win. The grave couldn’t hold Jesus down. Sin and death did not and does not have the final say. So in the midst of our quarantine, on the days when we often forget what day it is, we don’t have to forget that we have hope in Jesus, peace in the midst of the chaos, redemption through the cross, and forever to be with Him. Friend, let’s go spread some life changing good news, because we know what happened 3 days later.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”—Mark 16:6
Let’s FaceTime with our girls, text them, and create some conversations around these three questions:
When you think about the crucifixion of Jesus what kinds of emotions stir in you?
How has Jesus’ death and resurrection forever changed you?
Who is one person you need to share the “good news” of the cross with?
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Holly Myers is a passionate, energetic, and relatable woman that strives to minister specifically to girls and women. When Holly surrendered to God’s grace, her past ultimately drew her closer to her Creator and allowed her to experience freedom. Because Christ set Holly free from the bondage she was in, she recognized a calling to speak to other girls and women that may share her same story. Holly is passionate about seeing freedom in the lives of every girl and woman.Connect with Holly: Instagram // Website