Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:62-66, Luke 23:54-56, Isaiah 53:8-12
There is something so breath-taking about sunsets. Would you agree? A sunset has the ability to capture the day’s narrative with silky, smokey-sorbet colored lines in the sky. Or maybe you favor sunrises. How darkness gives way to dawn, singing awake every living thing with the promise of God’s magnificent mercies, never failing and always new.
But do we marvel and consider beautiful the time in-between the sun setting and sun rising? Do we consider it set apart and worth beholding? Not blazing with exquisite colors, but the steady sacredness of mundane, constant, and ordinary—the life in between.
Life in the in-between is where we find ourselves in today’s reading. It’s Holy Saturday, the shadowy time in between the Son entering the tomb and being raised on Resurrection Sunday. Today’s solemn in-between doesn’t appear beautiful. It doesn’t feel holy and sacred. It’s the day after a gruesome tragedy, quiet with shock, hazy with clouds of grief. The long-awaited, now crucified Messiah lay in a borrowed tomb with a stone rolled over it.
Imagine for a moment how His followers and disciples must have felt in the raw in-between. From their perspective, everything was dark. They could not see the resurrection hope peaking above the horizon. Fearful and confused, in the grip of grief while holding on to a vague hope, they may have wondered, Was following Jesus worth it? Did I waste these years? What was this for?
And yet, in the midst of their questions and lament, Scripture tells us,
“The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:55–56).
They rested. They didn’t busy the silence of heartache away, they honored what was sacred in the uncertain in-between.
What about you and me? Do we rest amid the doubts, the questions, the waiting and uncertainity? Do we rest in the in-between, when we can’t yet see hope rising from the darkness––the anxiety, depression, loss, illness, loneliness––that has set in our lives?
To rest reminds us that the coming light doesn’t rest on us. It’s the invitation of our text today. And it’s an invitation for the confused and fully convinced, for the doubtful and determined, for the wanderer and the wanting. It’s an invitation for you and for me, to fully live in the in-between, even if our hope feels but vague. Because even a vague hope can lead us to rest.
So as we wait to behold history’s most glorious Son rise tomorrow, I pray we don’t miss the opportunity to marvel in the holy in-between.
Written by Oghosa Iyamu
Hello dear sisters! I managed to get 3 hours of sleep with the baby last night and have a few moments to read the devotional, reading and some comments today. Elijah is one month old now praise God and growing well. Thank you for everyone who has been praying. Please continue to pray for us, my doctor says I screened positive for PPD. Thank you and bless you all!
Beautiful devotional this morning. Loved every word of it.
Sisters be blessed and rest.
Thank you for sharing.
Good morning sisters! I agree with you all, Oghosa, this was beautiful and inspiring!! I wasn’t going to say this but after reading some of the comments, here I am. I too, (as many here) have experienced the “in between”. The “in between” when we don’t know what is going to happen. For me that day ironically was around this time 6 years ago!! I made a hard decision (won’t give out details) , but I remember my kids and I were SO scared. Ironically it happened on a Friday night, and it was this Saturday, “the in between“experience that caused so much anxiety for the three of us. Today, my son, my daughter, and I, are in a much better place. We are safe. Please continue to pray as there’s still so much healing to take place especially for my son and daughter. I’m so thankful they both love Jesus. Please continue to pray for my son and daughter as they are still needing counseling.
Oh, I loved the devotion today. I needed to hear those words of encouragement for my own “in between” season that kept me awake last night, again. As I lay there, I prayed for forgiveness, as my time of suffering is so nothing compared to my Jesus’, yet it hurts so much. But I know this is only the waiting season and I CAN rest in the assurance of His love. Thank you for prayers lifted, and praying for you as well. ❤️
In our Good Friday service yesterday our pastor shared a new to me perspective on Barbarras, the criminal that was set free even though Jesus was innocent. He didn’t deserve to be free nor did he ask to be free. We are all Barbarras’s, it’s up to us to accept the gift that Jesus gave us. This touched me so much that I wanted to share it with my She Reads truth community. I am thankful for all that you share with me and pray that this image moves you like it did me.
Oghosa, this is the most beautiful thing I’ve read in a while.
There is holiness in suffering with Yahweh. The endurance to hold on past the point I thought I could comes from Jesus. Only He knew the pain of being utterly alone, drinking the cup of God’s wrath so I would not have to. On this Holy Saturday I can wait. I can rest. I have the beautiful blessing of knowing He will rise. He rose. Holding remembrance of this in between day for the disciples is such an honor. I can only imagine their grief and confusion. They saw Him crushed to death, but they could not see the seed. The offspring that would come were still veiled beneath the shroud of death. Locked away in a tomb, their King was gone from their midst. Yet, I love the faithfulness that remained in the small acts of obedience on the Sabbath. “After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11a). Our Divine Warrior finds victory in His resurrection. It’s hard to see past the crucifixion without knowing this was the ultimate battle of God against darkness and evil. This strike reclaims Yahweh’s people by offering restoration and reconciliation. The suffering warrior wins through a divine plan. And so today, I am reminded to rest in between. I think I will plant some flowers. Seems fitting for this Holy Saturday. A little music and hands in the earth like Jesus. Praying the seeds of hope and needs are pushed deep into God with faith that will bring peace in between the answers.