We celebrate Good Friday. We celebrate Easter. What about Saturday?
Sandwiched between the suffering of the greatest sacrifice ever made and the glory of the most magnificent triumph ever won, past present, or future, is What? I am going to call it Hupomone Day! because it is the Saturdays of our life that grow true perseverance.
How often do we find ourselves on Saturday? That blank day between suffering and triumph. At least as we watch the events unfold, we can focus on the horror and pain. We can anticipate the miraculous escape, the triumphant turning of the tide as God magnificently brings victory. Then it doesn’t happen the way we want or expect. The night falls, a restless night, perhaps without sleep, certainly with disturbed dreams. Then what about Saturday, what do we do? The dawn rises, but all that we can see is Friday’s darkness. The birds are singing, but all we can hear are the screams and jeers of the crowd; the hammering of the nails; the moans of his mother; the pounding of our own hearts.
What about Saturday. What do we do? What should we do? Some will run. Some will hide. Some will lose faith and return to the life they had known before they felt the Master’s touch. Some will struggle and doubt, but:
struggle and doubt + faith = Hupomone
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Some of us have longer Saturdays than others. Take Thomas. I often hear people make fun of doubting Thomas. I can only imagine that his fellow disciples gave him some ribbing but here is the deal: Thomas Stayed! He made it through a Saturday that was longer and more intense than any of the others. I can only believe this made his Sunday morning all the more amazing. Thomas grew through his Saturday. He walked away with an understanding of Hebrews 11:1 straight from the lips of his Savior: Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:29.
If Friday is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter Sunday; Saturday is Hupomone Saturday. Saturday is when we remember His Word. Saturday is when we remember His touch. On Saturday the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ becomes paramount. On Saturday we scream out to God. On Saturday we worship, we cry, we hurt, and we heal…in-spite of ourselves. On Saturday we grow and mature as on no other day. Perhaps that is why Saturday is in God’s plan for us. I have experienced a few Saturdays in my life. Some I am still experiencing. While Sunday mornings are great! It is the Saturdays that draw me close to God and close to God’s people.
It is in the midst of Saturday that I make strides towards Philippians 2, learning humility, and allowing God to work in me. It is on Saturday that God makes those subtle changes in me that draw my spirit, soul, and body closer to having His attitude and His values and to truly having His love.
It is on Saturday that we practice Hebrews 11:1 like no other day. Do we trust the promise? Are we certain of our hope? It is on Saturday that we say in the midst of it all with Joshua, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
Unfortunately, I think that it is also on Saturday that all too many lose faith, not being able to hold on to the promise. It is on Saturday that as brothers and sister’s in Christ we fail each other as on no other day. Perhaps this is because we do not realize that everyday is someone’s Saturday.
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Are you in the midst of Saturday? Be certain Sunday morning is coming, and when it does the most miraculous thing, the most miraculous change will not be in the situation that you are experiencing, it will be in YOU!
This post is a chapter in my book, The Hupomone Principle. The book is available on Amazon.com you can click on the image below
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