Day 2:
In the Fall of 2011, I had been through 2 heartbreaking miscarriages. I was continuing to pray for another baby, but my hope was dwindling. I was at the AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors) conference and one of my dearest friends, who lived far away and was somewhat disconnected from my pain, called and had her 3 year old daughter tell me she was going to be a big sister. I held it together through the phone call. I was thrilled for my friend, but heartbroken for myself and my family and my 6 year old son that might never be a big brother. I was staying with a fellow counseling friend and supervisor. She knew my heartbreak but I just couldn't talk. I told her I was going to for a walk. We were at Opryland so walking around and getting lost was easy. I called my husband in tears. He was too far away to hold me while I wept, but he offered sweet words of comfort. I stayed on a bench in a remote corner of the resort until I knew I could return to my room without having to talk to anyone because they would be asleep.
I was wrong.
When I entered the room, the lights were off and I quietly slipped into my bed. The lamp went on and my mentor asked me if everything was okay. I burst into tears and told her about the phone call. She asked me a question that somehow gave me enough hope to sleep. She asked me, "Has God told you that you will have more children?" And, without much thought, I answered, "No, but he also has not told me that I won't."
We prayed and I got a few hours of sleep. We awoke the next morning, our last day of the conference and went about our day. The last speaker that we heard was John Ortberg.
He spoke about Day 2. The disciples were heartbroken that their mentor was killed. They were terrified that they would also be killed. But there is not much talk of Day 2 in the Bible. We have to infer what that day must have been like for them. It must have been hard. They had left everything to follow this man that they thought was going to be the ruler of their world, and then he was killed. I am certain, they must have tried to make sense of conversations they had with Jesus in the past. They must have tried to make sense of all of those sermons. But they could not make sense of it. Their hopes and dreams were dashed. I am sure that they wept for the loss of this man that they loved and served alongside. They also feared for what their life would be now that he was gone. What would they do? Where would they go? Would they also be arrested and crucified?
Ortberg equated their Day 2 to our own lives. We often have a Day 1. Something terrible happens. Maybe many terrible things happen. And then there is Day 2. We are heartbroken, terrified of the future, shaken by the past, left with, seemingly, nothing to cling to. The only certainty we have is uncertainty.
But, there is always Day 3.
I cried and cried and cried. There were 10,000 people in that grand ballroom but John Ortberg was speaking to me. God was speaking to me through him. Just as Day 3 was coming, but the disciples did not yet understand, my Day 3 was coming, too. I was not sure what that was going to look like, but I knew it was going to get better. Good news was going to be coming my way. New hope would be fulfilled.
Now, just to wait in prayer to see what Day 3 would be.
Are you on Day 2? In this season, as we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and prepare for the joyous Resurrection Day, remember that Jesus' disciples also had a Day 2.
But, oh, what a glorious Day 3 was coming!