The Scriptures say nearly nothing about the day Jesus' friends spent between their Lord's death and His resurrection. Luke says the most: "But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment."

I have often thought about the discouragement and heartbreak they must have lived through on that day. All their hopes for His kingdom dashed - and one of their own inner circle the betrayer! And they had nothing to do all day - it was a day of required rest. The women couldn't anoint His body as they wished in a final gesture of honor. Eleven men were scattered but slowly returned together, wondering if they would be arrested next (John 20:19). I wonder if God didn't plan things that way for a purpose - forcing Jesus' followers to endure their grief for a day, forcing them to turn to Him with their questions instead of losing themselves in busy-ness, forcing them to stay in Jerusalem instead of returning home.

I woke up this morning feeling discouraged about some things with my son - things that I know the Lord wants me to turn over to Him instead of forcing myself further into the situation. But God reminded me of the significance of this Saturday. For Jesus' friends, it was a day to stay put and rest. In my own discouragement, God is asking me to rest and pray and wait for Him to work. Whether I see the fulfilment of God's plan tomorrow (as Jesus' friends did) or months or years from now, I will choose to trust.