All day long I’ve questioned what day it is simply because of how quiet the day has been. Saturdays are usually packed full of games or practices and preparing for Sunday. This is the first time in several years that my “day before Easter” hasn’t been full of final preparations for leading Easter worship. Instead, the evening has been spent quietly preparing for a simpler Easter Sunday. In the midst of setting a table, pulling down Easter baskets, and being still— my mind keeps drifting back to the scriptural journey of Jesus during his darkest hours.

Just how lonely did He feel? His closest friends were sleeping when he was praying. Some feel lost and stunned that Jesus is dead. Some are probably gathered around tables celebrating the crucifixion because they were part of the crowd who called for it. However, there’s Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Both members of the Sanhedrin, the very court that had condemned Jesus to death, and both had lived as quiet followers of Jesus. However, both had also come out of that hiding when they realized that Jesus really was the promised Messiah. Together, they quietly prepared Jesus’ body for burial. They laid him in a tomb and rolled a giant stone in front of it. Mary Magdalene and Mary were nearby watching. And there Jesus’ body laid, on a quiet Saturday.

All hope feels lost to most. Yet, I find myself wondering if there was anyone at all who was thinking about how Jesus said He would rise on the third day. Were they secretly believing it? There were Pharisees remembering it was said and wanted the tomb to have a guard. Was there anyone at all who thought “hang tight, this isn’t the end”? And, what about heaven? Was anyone in heaven quietly preparing for Jesus’ resurrection?

If I am honest, I am navigating some of my own hard things these days. But I’m reminded that quiet moments in the midst of hard doesn’t always mean all hope is lost. It just means God’s about to bring some goodness that I can’t see yet. I bet you’re going through your own hard things too. Want some good news? The same God who was quietly preparing for Jesus’ resurrection in the midst of the longest weekend ever is the same God today. We can’t get the resurrection and new life without going through some death ourselves, can we?