For a good portion of the United States, spring has sprung. While I am waiting for a little bit warmer nights to put out my spring plants, the air and light during the day is definitely different from the winter’s. The outside temperatures might be similar to a couple of weeks ago, yet the air seems warmer.

This week is Holy Week for those celebrating Easter and Passover for my Jewish friends. It is a time of remembrance and hope. As I have been thinking of the events of both Holy Week and Passover, I imagine what a rollercoaster of emotions during that time for those who witnessed it.

I think of the Israelites and how scared and perplexed they must have been during the plagues and with the final plague: applying blood over their doorways so the angel of death would “passover” the household and spare the inhabitants. They needed to be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice and travel to only God knew where. Their only experience with God was through oral stories of the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”. They would have heard of the stories of Joseph, his brothers and their moving to Egypt. At that time, there was no law or guidelines of a belief system. It was down to individual trust and faith.

For those followers of Jesus, what a week for them: to see their leader triumphantly riding a donkey on Sunday hailed as a King, by mid-week having the sentiment turn with Him being treated worse than a criminal and receiving the worst possible death-crucifixion. Yet by the following Sunday- the most life-altering event happened in history. No more would humans have to be separated from God. The creation is restored back to the Creator. For those followers of Christ, it came down to trust and faith too.

The ups and downs of emotions and experiences. But after all, isn’t that life? Don’t we all have weeks or seasons of life like that? We can experience the most heart-wrenching sorrow and the most profound joy at the same time. I know that I have. On one hand there is hope for a new day and excitement over dawning possibilities but on the other, there is the loss of what might have been, the people we mourn and miss, the dreams put on hold or ended.

Many of whom I know and love are having tough times: anxiety, profound grief, hurting, despair, major concerns, brokenness, or health issues, to name a few.

In our family we have suffered a recent loss. A week that started out with promise has become profoundly sad. Holy Week and Passover remind me of God’s provision and hope for the future even and most especially, during a time of loss. Both people groups in Old and New Testament experienced loss: for the Israelites, loss of their known home and for the Christ followers the loss of their leader. While their experiences and journeys were hard, God provided for them and led them to a place of joy: for the Israelites the promised land and for Christ’s followers, His resurrection.

While questions abound, “Why God? Why do people have to suffer?” it comes down to trust and faith. Trusting that God, the creator, knows the best for His creation and faith that He will act on that best for those we love. Even though life is a roller coaster, the end is the ultimate Promised Land- communion, community and life with the Creator of all things.

What about you? Have your ever experienced joy and grief in a short amount of time? How did you respond?

For me it is comforting to know that my human experience is not unusual- I am not alone in what life throws my way. Nor are you. For me, this season of spring is a season of hope- while I may not understand sorrows and difficulties, I have hope and faith in the One who does understand. Happy Easter.