Holy Saturday: Trusting God in the Interim
Just before one of the most triumphant moments in the Bible—Jesus’ resurrection—there is a period of time where the story leaves all of Christ’s followers suspended in a painful interim. I’m talking about that quiet Saturday when Jesus’ body is in the tomb. To the mortal eye, this appears to be a devastating loss—a period of waiting and silence.
Abraham’s Silent Obedience
One of the greatest Biblical examples of a painful interim is the journey that Abraham made with his son Isaac on their way to the mountain of Moriah. We often focus on the promise made to Abraham and the pivotal moment when an angel stops Abraham just as he is about to sacrifice Isaac. However, we rarely talk about the journey itself.
Before Isaac was born, God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. After years of struggle, God gave Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac. But then, God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham did not hesitate. He prepared everything for the journey, but he didn’t tell anyone, not even Sarah. He left and arrived at the mountain without expressing doubt or wavering in his faith.
Abraham and Isaac journeyed alone for three days to Moriah. For Abraham, it must have felt like an eternity. In silence, he carried the burden of what God had commanded him to do. Many people would have assumed that this was the end of the story—that the promise would not be fulfilled. Yet, in this dark interim, Abraham chose to believe. He focused not on the promise itself but on the one who made it.
Trusting God’s Promise in the Interim
Some of us may find ourselves in a long interim, waiting for promises to be fulfilled. We may be praying and waiting for answers or relief from struggles. But just because the fulfillment is delayed doesn’t mean the promise isn’t true.
People often focus on the end of the journey—the dream realized, the resurrection, the fulfillment of the promise. But we must remember the silence, the journey, and the inner struggles that come before. Just as Jesus was in the tomb on that dark Saturday, we too can trust God’s promise and have faith while we wait, knowing that we already know how the story ends.
About the Author:
Alyssa Sego
Stay at Home Mom
TC Attender Since April 2023
