Fear and Joy

Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1-3 

“So, the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples…then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said…”

Mathew 28:8, 16, 17

This mixture of fear and joy, worship and doubt were present in Christ’s disciples and these same responses are present in the church today. It is okay to acknowledge our fears and doubts even as we seek to follow Jesus. The vulnerability of this little band of disciples in the face of Jewish religious leaders and Roman military might made their joy and worship following the resurrection all the more precious. In the face of persecution and martyrdom, Christ-followers in least reached contexts today are still choosing to follow Jesus through joy, fear, worship, and doubt. Jesus can handle the mixture of our emotions and responses to him as we are honest and real.

“Lord Jesus, I bring my disappointments and fruit to you, for your glory.”