I know for many of us Easter is another holiday, a long weekend to look forward to relaxing with our loved ones and recovering from the year so far.

Easter has always been a special time in my family since I was young. As a child, the highlight of Easter for me was the chocolate eggs. My brothers and I got to choose the eggs that we wanted and we would stare at them for days on end until Easter Sunday came and we could finally devour them. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised that Easter eggs (although delicious) are not the only reasons to look forward to Easter, but rather the hope that Easter brings. Whether you're a Christian, a person of faith or still exploring what faith means to you, there is a message for you in the Easter story.  

Good Friday.

You see, good Friday was a day of mourning. Jesus had died. It reflects the dark periods of our lives. The disciples felt hopeless and it was difficult to see the light at the end of the road.

What are some of the things you're mourning in your life?

Holy Saturday.

Then there's Saturday. I can’t imagine how the disciples felt, the Saturday must have been an anxious period of waiting. They must have been in pain. Sound familiar? 

Situations where you’re uncertain of the future and you find yourself nervously in limbo. You trust God and His plans for your life but at the same time, you can’t see what He has promised. Much like the disciples hadn’t seen their risen King, they didn’t realise they were part of a much bigger plan. I think that’s something for us to reflect on, trying to trust God and find rest in painful situations.

Can you trust God amid uncertainty? 

Easter Sunday. An empty tomb.

"He is not here; he has risen!" - LUKE 24:6-7

The bible describes the women arriving at the tomb early Easter morning to find it empty. The reason Easter is important is because of the hope it brings. It reminds us that the dead things in our lives are resurrecting. It helps us to see past our present sufferings because of the victory of life that awaits us. 

I like to think of hope as an anchor for our soul, it helps us to stay unwavering in our faith when everything around us is uncertain. Let the message behind Easter encourage us to stay hopeful in the Saturdays of our lives. 

-Words by Amaka Ikpeazu