Bible insights from your friends at La Jolla Lutheran Church

Rejoice before it makes sense

Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that God is going to turn all things to the good for those who love God and are called according to God's purpose. As a result, we can rejoice even in things that disappoint us, knowing that God will transform them.

We can rejoice now, before it makes sense, knowing that God is faithful. Eventually, God will change the things that disappoint us into something good.

Mary Magdalene loved Jesus and sought to honor him after he had died. Because she sought to honor Jesus, even when she thought he was dead, she was able to see him resurrected before anyone else. That will be probably be true in your life as well - the more you seek Jesus, even when it doesn't make sense, the more you will benefit.

John 20:11 offers a picture of what we are often like. It says, "Mary stood weeping outside the tomb."

Mary thought she had reason to cry. She had seen Jesus die on Friday. Saturday was a day of rest, which she had honored. But now she had come as early as she could on Sunday morning. Even in the darkness she could see that someone had opened the grave and that Jesus' body was gone.

So she wept. She had come to honor his body and prepare it for burial; now that wasn't even possible.

Many of us are in spots like Mary. We are standing by the open tomb, weeping, not understanding that God has promised to transform our situation into something good. In Mary's case, the transformation had already happened. Jesus was alive, raised from the dead, but Mary was still weeping, not yet understanding.

There's no need for us to stand weeping when we have the promise that God will work everything to the good. We can rejoice before we see evidence that God has acted, because God is trustworthy.

God, help us to trust you even when we are disappointed, knowing that you will change all things to the good for those who love you and are called according to your promise. We praise you. Amen.

For more background and encouragement, see 1 Chronicles 16:31-34, Psalm 105:1-3, and Colossians 3:16-17.