Even when we’re weary, life doesn’t quit throwing experiences our way. We might be at the end of our rope, exhausted, angry, frustrated, confused and life keeps going. Life doesn’t give us a “time out” just because we are a little emotional (or really emotional). However, sometimes it seems easy to check out from life when things are stressful, aggravating, demoralizing and confusing. Bottling it up seems easier than dealing with things and allowing ourselves to become numb keeps us functional.

This past week was very difficult here in our home. Amy suffered two episodes that we think were strokes. She sleeps a lot and we have a growing sense that she is going home to be with the Lord very soon. In the four years that Amy has had cancer, we have both felt many things, wrestled with our faith and clung to each other. There have been times where I have indeed checked out. There have been times when Amy and I have asked a lot of questions and doubted. There has been fear, impatience, frustration, stress and anger. The grim reaper has been a regular dinner guest and slept over our house on many a night.

On the other hand, this week will be my largest outreach to date. During the day, through my work with the Lifefaqs Foundation, our team will take UK hip-hop band, Twelve24 in to schools throughout our community sharing a message of hope to more than 3,000 students. On an entirely different track through my ministry f2fmi, we will tour youth groups in the evenings and have a massive concert on March 27th to share God’s love and celebrate all that we have accomplished throughout the week. I am sure we will see salvation spring forth throughout the area in a fantastic new way.

Needless to say, Amy and I are living in a moment with two extremes: both pain and joy. Where do we find the inspiration to move forward? Where do we get the energy to organize and execute some 27 events throughout the week whilst dealing with such a massive life issue? Because Jesus is not dead, friends! As Christians, we believe that when Jesus Christ died for our sins 2,000 years ago, He was making amends for the things that we have done wrong and when He rose from the dead, a new hope was born that there is an escape from the sickness and pain of this world.

This message is what we believe. It is our hope. What better time is there to raise the banner and to declare the mercy of God to the world than when it looks like the end is eminent? It’s not over friends — for you, for me or for Amy. Jesus’ divine blood was spilled so that by believing in Him, not one drop of human blood should be lost in our battle with death when He burst from the ground and life erupted from that empty tomb!

How do we have faith in times of trial? By remembering that Jesus has already defeated death. He has already forgiven any wrong doing we may have done. Because we know He’s already sorted everything out, if we really believe it, we can live intentionally, purposefully and passionately. We can do the unexpected; the opposite of what those who don’t believe would do — we can rejoice in mourning, we can love our enemies, we can clench on to our hope when it looks like all our luck has run out. Easter is coming soon. Let’s remember what that is all about and remember who else is coming soon too.

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” -Hebrews 12:3