Easter has come! We have rejoiced and declared, “He is risen. He is risen indeed!” But then we go to Monday, and things are the same. Our burdens are still our burdens. Our fears are still our fears. There is still injustice, anger, and darkness.

You are in good company.

We often forget that after the day of resurrection, things did not suddenly turn around for, say, the disciples. The miracle happened. But eight days later, we find the disciples in an upper room where they had been staying, the doors locked, full of fear.

The miracle had happened. But at this point, only Mary had actually seen Christ. The disciples had seen the empty tomb, but not Jesus. And one imagines that Rome and the Jewish leaders were up in arms, thinking Jesus’ body had been taken for nefarious purposes. It was not unreasonable for the disciples to be worried that they would be the next ones taken.

The miracle had happened, but for the disciples, little had changed since the Crucifixion. Only now there was a wonderment of what it all meant, the empty tomb. The death linens folded neatly at the end of the bower. The stone rolled away.

Yes, you are in good company. Just because the miracle had happened does not mean everything in the world around them had changed. Not yet. So if you have celebrated Easter but little seems changed, do not worry. Wait.

That is what we miss sometimes. The disciples waited. They spent time with each other. They prayed together. They knew something had happened. They knew it was important. But the world was still the world and their fear was still their fear.

But they waited. And at times, we have to as well. The difference is that we wait in expectation. The disciples had no idea what the power of the Holy Spirit would do for them and to them. They had no idea of how the Holy Spirit, breathed into them, would change them, empower them, and change their lives.

So do not despair if life is still dark. Wait in expectation. Pray. Cling to your fellow believers. Pray for the Holy Spirit. Pray for hearts to change .In the meanwhile, love. Do good work.

It’s a dark world out there, but unlike those without faith, we know; we KNOW the light always wins. And we can be part of that light. Together.

Pastor Tom