Dear Family and Friends,

I know it’s a bit early but let me be the first to wish you a Happy Easter 2022. Yes, we are now in Holy Week. For those of you practicing Lent, you’re almost home. For others, this is always a good week to reread the last chapters of each Gospel account.

My favorite is John’s because of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse (Chapters 14 – 17).

The Discourse has many worthwhile reminders such as: to not let our hearts be troubled, the promise of the Holy Spirit, the deep relationship we share with the Father and His Son, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us.” ‭‭John‬ ‭17:21 ESV

And the one phrase Jesus said that for me, truly captures what we need to hear this Easter: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ESV

This Discourse, His final teaching to His closest friends, had a special underlying purpose. Jesus’ words were meant to comfort His disciples.

Jesus knew what was to come, the distress they would soon experience, what they needed to hear at this moment.
Although they didn’t realize it at the time, these words would carry and comfort them through Sunday and beyond. 

As we celebrate Easter this year, let’s take John 16:33 to heart. And because Jesus’ warning of tribulation holds true for us today, let’s allow these words to carry us through this season and beyond. 

We all assumed the anxiety due to two years of pandemic-induced uncertainty would be behind us by now. But (sigh) it may be too soon to discard our stash of masks, our dreams of post pandemic peace and normalcy shattered. 

Our distance from Ukraine doesn’t make the war any less distressing; our hearts are filled with pain for the lives lost, lives shattered.

The escalating cost of food and gas weighs heavily on everyone’s minds and wallets, especially those of us on fixed incomes.

One has to wonder if common ground and compromise will forever be concepts of the past to our deeply divided leaders. 

The lack of civility and grace on the stage of the Oscar’s and in the cancel culture aftermath is merely a reflection of the lack of civility and ungrace found in today’s larger society.

Am I the only one who feels this was the driest warmest winter ever in Hawaii?

And because of all this and more, we worry for the future of our children and grandchildren.

We worry that the moral values underlying our society, once based on the principles of the Bible, are not only lost, they’re perhaps beyond recovery. 

To sum it all up, the uncertainties of this season have made living with anxiety an unfortunate normality.

But this is why we celebrate Easter every year.

Easter is the time to acknowledge the unmerited grace we received. We do this by giving,“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:3 NLT

This is also the time to let the true meaning of Easter renew our hearts.

And what might that be, you ask? What occurred on that first Easter gave us Hope.

Scholars say Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophesies or promises through His birth, life, death and resurrection. Hope is confidently expecting God will fulfill His remaining promises.

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans‬ ‭8:32‬ ESV

Hope is the sureness we have of the glorious future God has for us despite the circumstances of today. 

“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”‭‭ Romans 8:18 ESV

Hope is what frees us from the anxiety of tribulations.

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.

For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18 ESV

And being free of tribulations, Hope brings us joy and peace.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ESV

So how exactly does this work? How does Hope replace our worries and anxieties with joy and peace?

Hope gives us a new perspective on the world around us. Hope helps us see those who cause us worry in a new way, through the lens of love. “We love because he first loved us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:19‬ ESV

Hope helps us see others as we once were, and want for them the same grace of God we received. Jesus once said,“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ‭‭ Luke‬ ‭5:31-32‬ NIV

And finally, Hope helps us take our eyes off of ourselves and our problems and instead focus on God and His provisions, those of the past and those to come. “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:9‬ ESV

My dear friends, may the peace and joy found only in Jesus be with you. Be confident that seasons will pass as they always do. And find rest, assured that He already overcame the world.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine on you and be gracious to you, and turn His face toward you and give you peace this Easter 2022.

In love always,