The Hope of Easter: Finding Clarity in Confusing TimesSample

Day 1: Long-Awaited Entry - Hope in God’s Plan

Matthew 21: 8-11 says, Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

"Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!"

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked.

And the crowds replied, "It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Imagine hearing that one day, the savior of the world would arrive in your town riding on a donkey. You hoped and prayed for this day to finally come, and before your very own eyes, you see him! Jesus entered Jerusalem just as the prophecy said he would. It is another promise of God fulfilled.

When we are lost and clinging to hope, it can be easy to doubt and fear the future. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring can either cause us to take matters into our own hands or deepen our trust in God. Throughout the story of Jesus, we see God follow through on his promises to his people. He sent us a savior to die for our sins, but his rescue did not stop there! He promises to be our source of strength, clarity, and wisdom throughout all of our days. Since our God is an honest God who does what he says he will do, we have all the reason to put our hope in him.

When we put our faith in others, our accomplishments, or in earthly things, we fall short every time. Do you have enough faith in God to get your garments ready to put on the road for when he fulfills his promise? Do you have enough trust to cut the palm branches for when you will wave them in celebration? Going through hard times is inevitable, but being hopeless is not. We can have hope in the promise keeper’s plan!