Rediscovering Faith Amid Grief

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from them tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”  And they remembered His words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them as idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”   Luke 24:1-12 ESV

At the break of dawn on the first day of the week, a group of devoted women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and others whose names we may never know—set out to the tomb with heavy hearts. Their intention was simple but profound: to honor Jesus by caring for His body, even in the midst of their grief and confusion. Despite their sorrow, they remained steadfast in their love and service, focused on their sacred task. Everything shifted, however, when they arrived at the tomb. The stone that had sealed the grave was rolled away, and Jesus’s body was nowhere to be found. Overwhelmed and bewildered, their pain turned to fear as two men in radiant garments appeared, messengers from God. The angels’ words pierced through their despair: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen.” In that incredible moment, the women remembered Jesus’s own words—promises spoken before sorrow clouded their memory. How often do we, too, become so weighed down by grief or disappointment that we forget the hope we have been given?

These women, who had been faithful servants throughout Jesus’s ministry (see Luke 8:3), were no strangers to caring for others. Yet, even their devotion could not protect them from the fog of sorrow. Their story invites us to reflect on those times in our own lives when pain overshadows the comforting words we have received from God and loved ones. In their vulnerability, these women were gently reminded of hope—a spark that reignited their faith and sent them to share the miraculous news with the disciples.

Peter’s journey mirrors this struggle, but with a deeper ache. His grief was compounded by the shame of denying Jesus, a friend and teacher he dearly loved. The women’s report of an empty tomb filled him with disbelief and urgency, compelling him to see for himself. Only when he stood in the quiet emptiness of the tomb did Peter begin to grasp the magnitude of the resurrection. It was there, in the middle of confusion and regret, that hope broke through.

The resurrection emerged from the heart of deep grief. None of Jesus’s followers fully understood His promises until they saw the evidence with their own eyes. In that moment, despair gave way to wonder. The risen Christ offered a hope that surpassed every expectation—a promise that even in our darkest valleys, new life and restoration are possible. When we find ourselves lost in sorrow, may we remember the empty tomb and the hope Jesus’s resurrection brings.

• When have you been so weighed down by sorrow or disappointment that you forgot God’s promises?
• How might remembering the resurrection change your perspective during difficult times?
• What does it mean for you to seek the living hope Jesus offers in your current season of life?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for meeting us in our deepest grief and confusion with hope that surpasses all understanding. Remind us of Your promises when we forget, and reignite our faith when it is dim. Fill us with the joy of Your resurrection, and let that hope shape our lives and relationships. Help us to share Your love and the good news of new life with those around us. Amen.