Peace, Power, and Purpose: The Easter Promise for Your Daily Life

Let me start with a simple truth: the resurrection of Jesus is a celebration that Jesus is alive. That might sound basic, but it's profoundly important.
Nearly 2,000 years ago, a group of women made their way to a tomb where Jesus' body had been laid following his crucifixion. They brought spices and oils, expecting to prepare his body for long-term burial. Instead, they found the stone rolled away and an angel waiting for them.
The Bible records this encounter in Matthew 28:5-6: "Then the angel spoke to the women. 'Don't be afraid,' he said. 'I know that you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.'"
The angel's first words? "Don't be afraid."
Why would the angel need to say this? Well, for starters, they were speaking with an actual angel (not an everyday occurrence). But more importantly, these women and Jesus' other followers had just witnessed their teacher and friend die on a cross. Their hopes had been crushed. Their future seemed uncertain. And now, the body was gone.
The angel's message was essentially: "Don't be shaken. Everything is changing."

Before we go further, let me share a short story Jesus told about building a solid foundation. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says:
"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it's built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."
The message is clear: it's possible to survive life's storms if you have the right foundation. And that foundation, according to Jesus, is unshakable faith built on him.

So what does this kind of unshakable faith actually look like in practice? Let me share three key elements I've discovered:

On that first resurrection Sunday, Jesus' disciples were hiding behind locked doors, afraid of the Jewish leaders who had just orchestrated Jesus' execution. They were understandably anxious about their own safety.
The Bible says in John 20:19-20: "That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! 'Peace be with you,' he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. Again he said, 'Peace be with you.'"
Twice Jesus said, "Peace be with you." Why? Because he understood their fears, their doubts, their anxiety. And with those four words, their fear and anxiety were replaced with assurance and joy.
This same message applies to us today. Whatever anxieties and fears you're carrying—whether it's a troubling medical diagnosis, a failing relationship, or financial worries—Jesus offers the same words: "Peace be with you."
The Bible encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7: "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Reflection question: What is keeping you up at night right now? What would it look like to give that worry to God and ask for his peace instead?

Let's be honest—sometimes we're just not strong enough to handle what life throws at us. And here's a truth many of us struggle to accept: God is not impressed with our strength or self-sufficiency.
Instead, God is drawn to those who humbly admit they need help. When we acknowledge our weakness, he steps in with his supernatural power.
Isaiah 40:29 puts it this way: "He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless."
The Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, described a personal struggle he faced (he called it his "thorn in the flesh"). He asked God three times to take it away, but God's response was profound: "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Paul's conclusion? "When I am weak, then I am strong."
This reversal of conventional wisdom is at the heart of unshakable faith. When we stop pretending we've got it all together and admit we need God's help, that's when his power begins to flow through us.
Reflection question: Where are you feeling weak or inadequate right now? Are you trying to handle it through your own strength, or are you willing to admit your weakness and ask for God's power?

When Jesus died on the cross, his followers felt not only anxious and weak but also deeply uncertain about their futures. They had followed him for three years, staking their lives on his leadership, and then watched him die.
But the resurrection changed everything. Jesus came back to life, just as he had promised, and in doing so, he gave his followers a new sense of direction and purpose.
God wants to do the same for you and me today. Our uncertainty—about relationships, career paths, major decisions—can actually be a good thing if it causes us to seek God's direction rather than just following our own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 offers this guidance: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."
And God makes this promise in Psalm 32:8: "The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'"
Reflection question: Where are you feeling uncertain in your life right now? Are you willing to ask God for direction instead of just relying on your own understanding?

The answer is simple but profound: it starts with building your life on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.
Now, if you're new to faith or exploring Christianity, let me explain what this means in practical terms.
First, we need to acknowledge the reality that none of us perfectly matches up to God's standard. Romans 3:23 says, "Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." The word "sin" simply means missing the mark—falling short of perfect love, perfect truth, perfect integrity.
And Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death"—meaning that our sin has consequences; it separates us from God.
But here's where the good news comes in. The second part of Romans 6:23 says, "But the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." And Romans 5:8 adds, "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
In other words, Jesus took the penalty we deserved for our sins. When he died on the cross, he was dying in our place. And when he rose from the dead three days later, he proved that he had conquered sin and death.
Ephesians 2:8-9 explains how we receive this gift: "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
Faith means trusting Jesus to forgive your sins and give you eternal life. It means acknowledging him as both your Savior (the one who saves you from your sin) and your Lord (the one you choose to follow).

If you've never taken this step of faith before, you can do it right now. It's not about saying the right words or performing a religious ritual. It's about a sincere choice to trust Jesus with your life. You might express it in a simple prayer like this:
"Dear Jesus, I know I'm a sinner. I know my sin deserves to be punished. I believe you died for me and rose from the grave. Please forgive me for my sins and rebellion. Please come into my life and change me like only you can. I trust in you alone as my Savior, and from this moment forward, I submit to you as my Lord. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness and eternal life that I now have in you."
Whether you're taking this step of faith for the first time or you've been walking with Jesus for years, the invitation is the same: build your life on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, and let him give you the peace, power, and direction you need to stand strong through life's storms.
Reflection question: Where are you in your spiritual journey right now? Are you already a believer in Jesus, believing today for the first time, still considering, or not sure you'll ever believe? 

If you'd like to learn more about building an unshakable faith, I'd love to invite you to join us this Sunday at Hope Church. We're a community of imperfect people seeking to grow together in our faith, and we'd be honored to have you join us, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey.
Whether you're struggling with anxiety, feeling weak and overwhelmed, or uncertain about your future, you'll find a place where you can explore these questions and discover the peace, power, and direction that come from a relationship with Jesus.
Hope to see you Sunday!