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“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”
- Matthew 28:6
Sometimes something feels so final that we can't imagine anything changing. For some of us, it's the loss of something we hold dear, like a loved one, our health, a job.
The disciples knew that feeling well because they watched Jesus die on the cross. They watched His body placed inside a tomb and saw the stone rolled across the entrance. How final that must have seemed. It was the ultimate symbol of finality. Fear and grief were mixed. They didn’t know what was next or what to do. How often do we experience a life-altering event and have those very same feelings?
While the story seemed over for Jesus, we know it wasn’t. But the disciples didn’t.
And yet, we know that Sunday morning came. When the women arrived at the tomb, the stone had been rolled away. The grave was empty. Jesus was alive! What looked like the end had become the beginning of everything. A surprise ending to the story. One that continues to breathe new life into ours. That's the power of resurrection. God specializes in taking things that appear finished and breathing new life into them. I love that.
Maybe something in your life feels like a tomb right now. You don’t see a way out of the darkness. Maybe you feel like the stones are too huge to move and you need a miracle.
Life has so many seasons. Seasons we wish away and those we never want to leave. And yet, we know change is a constant. But Jesus’s resurrection teaches us that God has never been intimidated by an ending. He is the God of new beginnings, who loves us so much that He provides a way to Himself through His Son!
No stone is too heavy for Him, and death isn’t final either. While our earthly situations may not go as we hope or want, we know God will set things right in eternity. While we serve Him here, He often uses difficult things to bring us something deeper, better, and character-building.
Resurrection reminds us that endings are not always what they seem. God can take what seems like a burial and turn it into a beginning. So if you're standing in front of a closed door today, don't assume God isn’t working.
The stone may not have moved yet, but that doesn’t mean God won’t roll it out of the way at just the right time.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that the grave was not the end. When something in my life feels finished, remind me that You are the God of resurrection. Help me trust You with my endings and believe that You can bring new life in ways I cannot yet imagine. Amen.
With Love,
Sherry Shepherd
Matthew 28:6 gives us another way to respond to what we're facing. Take a few moments now to sit with this verse and let it speak into your day.
Journal & Reflect
- What has been taking up the most space in your thoughts related to "When the Stone Is Rolled Away"? Write down the situation, or unanswered question that keeps coming back to your mind.
- How does Matthew 28:6 speak into something you're facing this week?
- Turn that thought into a prayer. Rewrite what you wrote above as a conversation with God.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT DOES MATTHEW 28:6 TEACH US ABOUT ANXIETY?
Matthew 28:6 reminds us that we're not meant to walk through this alone. The passage gives us a way to respond: turn toward God, talk to Him, and continue trusting Him with what is outside our control.
HOW CAN I MAKE THIS DEVOTIONAL PART OF MY DAILY ROUTINE?
Set aside a few quiet minutes each day to read the verse, journal your thoughts, and turn what you're carrying into a short prayer.
WHAT SHOULD I WRITE IN MY PRAYER JOURNAL TODAY?
Write down what stood out to you in the verse, one honest thought or worry you're holding, and a short prayer surrendering it to God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for meeting me here today.
Help me trust You with what I don't yet understand.
Guard my heart and give me peace, one day at a time.
Thank You for hearing me.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Message from Kara
I don't always have this figured out.
But I'm learning to bring it to God instead of carrying it alone.
That doesn't mean it gets easier overnight. Sometimes I have to keep choosing to trust Him, one day at a time.
And that's okay.
Applying This to Your Daily Routine
Take time to reflect, pray, and process what God is teaching you through every season. Our Personalized Prayer Journal was designed to help you grow deeper in faith - one day at a time.
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Today's devotional pairs beautifully with the Blue Chrysanthemum | Personalized Scripture Journal
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