With Fear and Great Joy
Wes Wick
These words jumped out more than once as we participated in multiple online services over Easter weekend.
It’s amazing how certain phrases command our attention when life circumstances change. The Word hasn’t changed, but our conditions sure have.
Because we know how the story ends with Jesus’ resurrection, the raw and conflicting emotions of Passion Week may sometimes escape us. Even on Easter Sunday, the great day of triumph, Gospel writers Matthew and Mark still acknowledge fear’s presence as the women left the empty tomb with great joy to share this news with the disciples, who were also hunkered down in fear.
And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. Matthew 28:8 (NASB)
They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Mark 16:8 (NASB)
Right now, in the middle of a pandemic, fear is common. We don’t know how the days, weeks, months and even years ahead will unfold. We’re confident that COVID-19 will eventually be contained. But we don’t know the extent of the physical, economic, and emotional toll ahead, generally or personally.
While we’re in a season fraught with very real coronavirus fears, let’s keep our hearts open. We like how Matthew uses the word ‘great’ to describe the joy, and fear has no enhancing descriptor. God still wants to show up with great-joy surprises—greater than our fears.
Charles Dickens’ epic line from the Tale of Two Cities comes to mind. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Some things like air quality and traffic have never been better. Some families are experiencing tremendously rich times that will be remembered and treasured.
But many are facing danger, severe illness, financial devastation, uncertainty, physical and emotional exhaustion, and death.
Can we acknowledge that it’s okay in the present for fear and great joy to co-exist?
Just know, in the end, joy wins.
… Because of the joy awaiting him, he [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. from Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)