5 Day Devotionals
Journey to the Cross – Week 7
Day 1: The Weight of Friday
Scripture: Matthew 27:45-50
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).”
Reflection:
The disciples stood at the foot of the cross watching their Savior die. Every hope they had placed in Him felt gone. Doubts flooded their minds: Is He even who He said He was? What does our future look like now?
We’ve all experienced our own “Fridays”—moments when life crumbles and hope feels distant. Perhaps you’re walking through grief, facing an uncertain diagnosis, or carrying the weight of a broken relationship. Like the disciples, you may be wondering where God is in your pain.
But here’s what we must remember: Friday wasn’t the end of the story. God was already at work in ways they couldn’t yet see. The same is true for you today.
Prayer:
Lord, when I’m standing in my Friday moments—when grief is heavy and hope feels far away—help me remember that You are still at work. Even when I can’t see what You’re doing, give me faith to trust that Sunday is coming. Amen.
Reflection Question:
What “Friday” are you currently walking through, and how can you trust God is still working even when you can’t see it?
Day 2: The Silence of Saturday
Scripture: Psalm 13:1-2
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?”
Reflection:
Saturday was the day when heaven seemed to press mute. The disciples prayed, questioned, and waited in darkness. There were no answers, no signs of hope—just silence.
Maybe you know what that feels like. Times when you pray and heaven seems silent. When you cry out for guidance but hear nothing back. When you’re left waiting for something—anything—to show you God is still present.
The sermon reminded us that we don’t talk about Saturday much because we don’t know a lot about it. But what we do know is this: God’s silence doesn’t mean God’s absence. Even when we can’t hear Him, He is working. The resurrection was being prepared in the silence of Saturday.
Prayer:
Father, when I feel like my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, remind me that Your silence doesn’t mean abandonment. Help me wait with hope, trusting that You are preparing something greater than I can imagine. Amen.
Reflection Question:
How can you find peace in God’s presence even when you can’t hear His voice? What does it mean to trust Him in the waiting?
Day 3: Sunday Changed Everything
Scripture: Luke 24:1-6
“When they arrived, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus… ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!'”
Reflection:
What a difference a day made! The women came to the tomb expecting death, carrying spices to prepare a body. Instead, they encountered angels with the most beautiful words in all of Scripture: “He is not here, but has risen!”
The resurrection wasn’t just good news—it was the news. It was the declaration that death doesn’t have the final say, that suffering is not the end of our story. God’s promises are true. Death has been swallowed up in victory.
For those women and for us today, the resurrection means everything changed. The silence was broken. Hope was restored. And we have been invited to run—just like those women ran—to tell the greatest news the world has ever heard: Jesus is alive!
Prayer:
Risen Savior, thank You that the tomb couldn’t hold You. Thank You that death, shame, guilt, and despair don’t get the final word—You do. Help me live today with resurrection joy, knowing that because You’re alive, I have hope for every tomorrow. Amen.
Reflection Question:
How does the reality of the resurrection change the way you face your current circumstances? What would it look like to live with resurrection hope today?
Day 4: Peter’s Restoration
Scripture: John 21:15-17
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.'”
Reflection:
Peter had denied Jesus three times. The weight of that failure must have been crushing. Yet when Peter heard the tomb was empty, he ran toward Jesus, not away from Him. And Jesus met him exactly where he was—confused, broken, and probably smelling like fish.
Three times Peter denied. Three times Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” Jesus didn’t need to know if Peter had it all figured out. He didn’t need to know if Peter was over his failure. He needed to know one thing: Do you love me?
Because if Peter loved Jesus, Jesus would take care of all the rest.
Maybe you feel like Peter—disqualified by your past, weighed down by shame. But God’s grace is greater than your denial, bigger than your failure, certainly bigger than your attempts to fix your own problems. Jesus is asking you the same question He asked Peter: “Do you love me?”
Prayer:
Jesus, I don’t have it all together. My life is messy, and I’ve failed You more times than I can count. But yes, Lord—I love You. Thank You that Your grace is bigger than my failure and that You meet me exactly where I am. Restore my purpose and help me feed Your sheep. Amen.
Reflection Question:
What failures or shame are you carrying that need the touch of God’s restorative grace? How is Jesus inviting you to move toward Him instead of away from Him?
Day 5: Made for More
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-6, 8-9
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Reflection:
These are Peter’s own words—the same Peter who denied Jesus, who failed spectacularly, who ran away in fear. But because of the resurrection, Peter was transformed. He went from broken and ashamed to a bold preacher of the gospel, the rock of the church.
Peter discovered he was made for more than his failure. And you are too.
You were made for more than the simple life you’re living. You were made to live for Jesus 24/7, to change lives, to share your testimony, to give others the hope they can only find in Him. The resurrection isn’t just a historical fact—it’s a present reality. Jesus is alive, He is with you, and He’s coming back to take you home.
This is your moment to respond. You don’t need to clean yourself up first. You don’t need all the answers. All you need to do is move toward Jesus and let the risen Christ do the rest.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that I was made for more. Thank You that the resurrection gives me living hope, that my story isn’t over, and that You’re not done with me yet. Help me live every day for Your glory, sharing the good news that Jesus is alive and death doesn’t get the final word. Because Sunday is here, and You are risen! Amen.
Reflection Question:
How is God calling you to live differently because of the resurrection? What is one specific way you can share the hope of Jesus with someone this week?
Final Thought:
Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. No matter what Friday you’re walking through, no matter how silent your Saturday feels, remember: Sunday is coming. And when Sunday arrives, everything changes.