Easter is a joyful time of celebrating the most important event of our faith: Jesus Christ’s resurrection. We eagerly look forward to the Easter holiday for a long time each year, but it ends after one short day. That can be quite disappointing. After all, who really wants to stop celebrating the best gift the world has ever received? The good news is that we don’t need to stop celebrating Easter after the holiday is over. We can celebrate the wonder of Easter every day – not just on Easter Sunday. The wonder that Easter sparks in our souls is something we can enjoy each day of our lives. When we do, we’ll experience the joy that comes from connecting with God’s presence in our lives day by day. Here’s how to live with the wonder of Easter every day.
Live with Hope
Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and victorious resurrection from his grave assures us of our own victory over sin and death when we trust Jesus to help us. It gives us confidence that we can connect with our holy God and experience eternal life with him in heaven. That reality gives us ultimate hope and infuses our lives with a sense of renewal. As believers, we can let the hope God has given us permeate every aspect of our lives. Romans 6:4 declares: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” This new life, born out of Jesus’ resurrection, is a hope-filled life that inspires us to find and fulfill God’s purposes for us. It motivates us to ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to move away from our sins and move closer to God, day by day. When we’re living with hope, we can do as Romans 6:11 urges us to do: “… count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Living with hope also frees us from the fear of death, because we know that when we die, we will go to heaven when we trust Jesus as our Savior. That hope inspires us to discover the wonder of God’s work in our lives, and when we become aware of that day by day we can stop worrying, overcome anxiety, and find encouragement when we’re grieving. Living new lives of hope also motivates us to share the Gospel message with other people who are looking for hope. Jesus’ resurrection on the first Easter showed that he conquered death once and for all. As 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 proclaims: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also, 1 Peter 1:3 encourages us: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This living hope propels us forward each day, knowing that even when we face dark circumstances, we can rely on Jesus as the Light of the World to help us.
Live with Courage
Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate victory over fear. It shows God’s power to conquer anything – even what we fear the most: death. When we keep the wonder of Easter in mind every day, we can walk with a powerful spirit that makes us courageous. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Bible reveals: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” This assurance empowers us to face life’s challenges with boldness. The more we focus on the wonder of what God has done for us through Easter, the more we can trust in God’s promises when we’re in situations that make us feel afraid. Thanks to the resurrection, we know that God’s power is truly limitless. Wonder helps us break free of fear by moving our perspective beyond our circumstances to God. Then, we can see that we can rely on God to help us with whatever we need in any circumstances. God assures us in Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This steadfast assurance enables us to face each day with courage, knowing that God is our protector and guide. Wonder inspires us to feel awe, which is a good kind of fear involving respect and reverence. The Bible refers to that in both Proverbs 9:10 and Psalm 111:10, when it says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The resurrection’s wonder shows God’s awesome power at work in a miraculous way. Pondering that gives a healthy fear of God – not being afraid of God himself (because God is good and loving), but being in awe of God’s great power. Since God used his great power to give us the gift of salvation on Easter, we can live securely in God’s love, which gives us courage.
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Live with a Sense of Belonging
The wonder of Easter highlights that we have been adopted into God’s family through the saving work of Jesus Christ. This adoption brings with it a powerful sense of belonging that dispels the fear of rejection or abandonment. Romans 8:15-16 points out: “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” This intimate relationship with God fills us with confidence, knowing that we are unconditionally loved and accepted. So, we can enjoy peace of mind before God. When we let the wonder of Easter inspire us, we can see that we’re connected to our Heavenly Father along with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. That can motivate us to pursue unity with our fellow believers. As part of God’s family together, we should treat each other with intentional kindness, helping each other in practical ways and building relationships that are full of grace and mercy.
Live with Forgiveness
As we reflect on the wonder of Easter and the events leading up to it, we can't help but think about forgiveness. Jesus’ work saving humanity from sin was all about forgiveness. We can ponder Jesus’ words from the cross, recorded in Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Since God has forgiven us for so much, shouldn’t we forgive others who hurt us, as God calls us to do? Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it’s a vital part of Easter’s message. We should respond to Easter every single day by being willing to forgive people, with God’s help. We can let go of bitterness and resentment, and move on with freedom and trust that God will help us with whatever we need. Colossians 3:13 encourages us to: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Jesus will help us learn to love our enemies. He will also help us move on from our own past mistakes when we ask him to forgive us for them and learn from them.
Live with Strength
Finally, we can draw strength from the wonder of Jesus’ resurrection. Remember that death must always precede resurrection. So, we must be willing to sacrifice whatever selfish agendas conflict with God’s will for our lives. We can crucify attitudes and behaviors that we know don’t align with God’s best for us, so God can raise us to new lives by transforming our habits into healthy ones that will help us grow to become more like Jesus. As the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” The same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives within all of us who trust Jesus as our Savior. That empowers us with the strength we need in any situation. Philippians 4:13 points out: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This profound truth reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles. We have access to the limitless power of God through our union with Jesus. By letting the wonder of Jesus’ resurrection inspire us daily, we can face each day with all the strength we need.
So, we don’t have to stop celebrating Easter just because Easter Sunday has passed. We can celebrate the wonder of Easter every day of the year. As we do so, we can live with hope, courage, belonging, forgiveness, and strength. Let’s remember that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us as God’s children, empowering us to live our best lives every single day! The more we let the wonder of that reality inspire our daily choices, the more we can enjoy the abundant life God intends for us.
To read the first article in this series on the wonder of Lent and Easter, click here.
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Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.