Resurrected Hope: A Journey from Despair to Divine Redemption
Greetings, dear friends. Over the past two years, I genuinely feel a kinship with each of you. Through my months of writing, sharing, and connecting, our relationship has evolved into something I cherish. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I do not take sharing life with anyone lightly.
As I sit down at my keyboard on this perfectly sunny Easter morning in Colorado, I am overwhelmed with many emotions — joy, frustration, profound reflections, and an abundance of gratitude, perhaps more than I would expect during these challenging desert moments many of us have navigated through this Lenten season. Please know that if you are journeying through the desert of doubt, teetering between joy and the shadows of past transgressions, you are not alone in this pilgrimage. God is near, always speaking life to these barren spaces, calling us out of our graves to encounter Him in the transformative reality of resurrection.
Also, as I write, I feel such promise as if my family is on the threshold of what feels like the most fragrant garden of promise, a mountaintop sunrise bathed in the nearness of God and the assurance that He makes all things new. Every individual, every situation, every tear, and every regret is encompassed in His redemptive embrace. He is alive, and for us to be wholly His, we, too, must embrace the fullness of life He offers.
For two-plus lengthy years, I have been consumed by feeling forsaken on a journey of confession and healing and being exhausted by a relentless pursuit of providing financially for my family. Although I can trace his hand in most circumstances, I can also confess that I inadvertently turned a deaf ear to many divine whispers and, on a completely different note, charged too much on credit cards. Let me be clear: my relationship with God remains steady, and my trust in His promises has never wavered. Yet, I found myself taking every breath from beneath the shadow of perceived judgment, inadvertently sidelining the work of the Holy Spirit — the promise of comfort and strength. Doubting that, he “will make a pathway through the wilderness and create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19, NLT)
Perhaps this admission is unsettling as you read it, but I share it honestly, trusting that this transparency will be held in sacred regard. Throughout this journey, I have clung tightly to a love that remains steadfast amidst human frailty, a love that tirelessly seeks to restore, redeem, and renew. The God I had misunderstood was not a God of judgmental scrutiny but a God of relentless grace and unfathomable mercy. Indeed, a facet of His mercy is unveiled in the depths of His love, a love that surpasses human comprehension.
Over the last couple of months, I am learning that the desert experience is full of purpose. In the barrenness of our despair, we are invited to confront our illusions and awaken to the transformative power of divine love. Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, I, too, had to learn the sacred rhythm of surrender and trust. Along the way, my voice seemed to fade into the silence, yet now, I sense the subtle stirrings of vocal cords awakening and resonating once more. It’s as though there is a more profound message to convey, a richer melody to sing, and a greater truth to proclaim. I guess, on this Easter, I am saying that I no longer think God is done with me. God is not done with us.
Easter, dear friends, is the culmination of this divine drama. It is the moment when hope is not merely restored but resurrected. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a mere historical event but an ongoing reality that challenges our notions of despair, defeat, and death. It is the divine affirmation that love triumphs over sin, grace conquers guilt, and life prevails over death.
As Walter Brueggemann eloquently articulates, “The resurrection asserts a truth that is beyond our comprehension but not beyond our apprehension: God is in the business of making all things new.” Let’s embrace this sacred truth with open hearts and renewed spirits this Easter.
So, take courage to all burdened by past mistakes, ensnared by doubt, or estranged from the Divine love. The God of Easter is not a God of condemnation but a God of resurrection and new beginnings. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us also celebrate the resurrection of hope within our own lives.
This Easter, may we all experience the transformative power of divine love, the joy of resurrected hope, and the promise of a new beginning. Let us journey together from the shadows of despair into the glorious light of resurrection.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Grace and peace to you all this Easter season.
— Jeremi
PS — Keep an eye out for upcoming music. Amy and I have started working on it, and I’m confident we’ll complete it soon. I’m excited to join you again in musical worship. While we’ve been worshipping together through writing, let’s now incorporate music. Thank you to all who have supported this journey; we feel your love and are thankful.
