Does life sometimes feel like ‘a series of unfortunate events’?
Luke 24:17-32
Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” [The two disciples] stood still, their faces downcast “…some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find Jesus’ body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive…” Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself…They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke chapter 24 reports to us the climax of what was for Jesus’ followers ‘a series of unfortunate events’. Jesus was betrayed by one of his followers (Judas), condemned unjustly by his own people’s court (the Sanhedrin), abused by the Roman soldiers, and sent to die a criminal’s death – when he had done no wrong. Luke reports the disciples’ natural human response to this ‘series of unfortunate events’ – “their faces were downcast”. Why? They had hoped Jesus was the promised Rescuer from God, but that hope seemed to be dashed. When life seems for us like ‘a series of unfortunate events’ we can feel downcast like the two disciples. But the resurrection of Jesus lifts our hearts with real hope for the future. We can be sure the God who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in our time and place, that we fit into that plan of God, and that we are his forever!
Head: When your life seems like ‘a series of unfortunate events’ turn in your thoughts to the resurrection of Jesus – the God who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in our time and place.
Heart: Ask God to enable your heart to find its hope in the resurrection of Jesus, and trust that God is at work for your good in the ordinary events of your life, even when it seems like ‘a series of unfortunate events’.
Hands: Please plan to talk with a Christian you trust about how your life is going. Please reflect with them on the promise that God is at work for your good in the events of your life – even when it seems like ‘a series of unfortunate events’, or ‘a run of good luck’.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please enable my heart to find its hope in the resurrection of Jesus, and trust that you’re at work for my good in the ordinary events of my life, even when it seems like ‘a series of unfortunate events’, or ‘a run of good luck’. Help me to find a trustworthy Christian I can talk with about this truth and its impact on my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
A song to listen to: It is Well
Phil Strong
This Grow Daily was originally posted as part of the Must See Passages series in 2016. During the School Holidays we take the opportunity to look back at the best of Grow Dailys over the years.
