Sprouting Life

I always looked forward to Easter. Spending the day with some of my favorite people doing the traditions I’m sure most of you enjoy too. The egg hunts, Easter baskets and delicious food- it’s what I looked forward to. In the midst of all of the celebrating and fun, I didn’t see the reason behind Easter. Can I share a story with you? A personal one, that might change your perspective on Easter too.

My little sister changed my life- from the second she was born on my birthday to now, and I believe that God has worked through her in every area of my life to be the person I am today. But friends, I wasn’t the same person two years ago. My life looked a lot different- I was a senior in highschool and the only thing that was on my mind was myself. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t, striving to be what the world told me I should be. The day after Easter I remember getting a call from my mom. As I tried to make out her soft voice over the noisy, crowded, hallway I heard her say that my little sister was in the hospital, and it was from that moment that my world turned upside down- but it started to go in the right direction. One day in the hospital grew into three weeks. Three weeks my family and I sat in a hospital room uncertain of why my sister was so sick. She was pale, her ten year old body distorted from being so frail and, if I’m going to be honest, she looked like she was dying. By the end of those three weeks, we found out my sister had a rare genetic disorder that had put her kidneys into failure. We were told she could need a transplant at any moment and for the next eight months, we sat in this great unknown. I wish I could describe to you what those months looked like. In the midst of suffering, God met us in the most unexpected and beautiful ways. Strangers turned into family, miraculous provision was poured out and by the end of those eight months God had blessed my sister with a transplant, with life. 

In one year God took our lives and empowered us with His resurrection power. The same resurrection power that happened on Easter morning when Jesus rose from the grave and was crowned our Living King. When my sister got sick it wasn’t just her who was dying, it was the rest of my family too. Before our world was turned upside down, we were going through the motions of life, dead and unaware of who we were and what we were doing. We believed in God, but we didn’t trust in Him. You see, when God brought our lives to a stop we had no choice but to trust in Him. We had to trust God in those months of the unknown because we knew that He was greater than death, just as we see on Easter when Jesus conquered death. Recently I heard my Pastor say, “God loves to bring dead things to life” and friends, there is nothing truer than this. I believe that God brought my family through that season of physical and mental death so that He could resurrect us and bring us to truly live life. My sister chose to name her new kidney sprout because of the new life in her body. What my family didn’t realize at the time was that God wasn’t only sprouting new life in her body, He was sprouting new lives in all of us. 

New life comes with new routines and rhythms. I'd be lying if I'd said we don't struggle anymore- We're learning how to live new lives. New lives that involve being more aware of what we do and where we go. If I'm being completely honest, life is still hard and last Easter we got to spend it in the hospital. We still face daily trials but we now know that these hardships are only growing our faith in God. Friends, the reality is we're human. We're going to fall and make mistakes, but once we're empowered with Jesus's resurrection power we have the ability through Him to get back up and try again. We have the ability to trust in Him with all that we have to surrender our finances, appearances, health, emotions- everything to Him.

Two years ago I celebrated Easter for the colored eggs, delicious food and fun baskets. This Easter I celebrated Jesus, the King who robbed the grave and claimed life- the same life that now lives in my family and I. Friends, I told you that story to show you the power of Jesus’s resurrection and the plans God has for each of our lives. You might be in that season of death right now, where your whole world seems to be turning upside down but I’m here to assure you that it’s going in the right direction. You may not see it now, but Jesus is resurrecting you and your life. I encourage you to trust in Him with everything that you are because there is nothing more powerful than God and His love for you. 

Take a moment to be aware of His presence right now. I encourage you to tell Him that you trust in Him- In His plans and His timing. Friends, If you’re ready to trust God with everything that you are, pray this with me: 

“Jesus I surrender to you. I trust in you with all that I am and I ask that your powerful presence come and surround me. Fill me up until I overflow. Jesus thank you for dying for me and pouring out your resurrection power. I trust in you and you alone. I pray this all in your living Name, Amen.”