"So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples."— Matthew 28:8 (NIV).
Reflection
One of the most honest phrases in the entire Easter story is this: "afraid yet filled with joy." Not one or the other. Both. At the same time. The women didn't have it all together emotionally. They hadn't processed everything theologically. They were still trembling. And yet joy was also present, pushing them forward, sending them running.
This is one of the most important things to understand about the life of prayer and faith: you don't have to wait until you're no longer afraid to experience God's joy. Both can coexist. Fear does not disqualify you from joy, and joy does not mean the absence of fear. The women ran to tell the disciples while still trembling. They obeyed while still afraid.
So many of us are waiting. Waiting until we feel more confident, more peaceful, more "healed" before we step into what God is calling us to do. But the pattern of the resurrection morning is different. God doesn't wait until we have our emotions perfectly sorted. He sends us running in the middle of our trembling.
Prayer is how we keep running. It is how we stay in motion even when fear is still present in our hearts. We bring the fear to God, we receive His word, and then — even with shaking hands — we go and tell what we know.
Reflection Question
Is there something God is calling you to do that you've been postponing until you "feel ready" or "stop being afraid"?
Action Step
Do one thing today that God has been prompting you toward, even if you do it afraid.
Prayer for Afraid Yet Filled With Joy
Father, like those women, I am afraid yet filled with joy. Help me to run anyway. Don't let my fear stop my feet. Let me obey in the middle of my trembling, trusting that You are ahead of me wherever You send me. Amen.
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