Does God Hear Me? Wrestling with Divine Silence

Have you ever felt like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling? You’re not alone. At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we understand that faith isn’t always accompanied by feelings of awe and wonder. Sometimes, we come to worship carrying something heavy—a prayer that remains unanswered, a season of struggle that has lasted far longer than we ever imagined, and underneath it all, a haunting question: “God, are you even there?”

If you’re in that place today, take heart. You’re in good company with some of the greatest figures in Scripture.

The Question We’re Afraid to Ask

When we’re experiencing unanswered prayers or prolonged suffering, we often wrestle with questions we’re afraid to voice out loud:

• God, do you see me?
• Are you aware of what I’m going through?
• Have you forgotten my name?
• Do you even care about my situation?

These aren’t questions of weak faith—they’re questions of honest faith. And here’s the encouraging truth: God has not forgotten your name. Even when you feel alone in your struggle, Scripture assures us that we’re never truly abandoned.

Job: The Righteous Man Who Lost Everything

One of the most powerful examples of wrestling with God’s silence comes from the book of Job. Job 1:1 describes him as “blameless and upright, a man who feared God and shunned evil.” In other words, Job was doing everything right. He was a righteous man living a faithful life.

Yet despite his righteousness, Job lost everything:

• His wealth vanished
• His children died
• His health deteriorated
• His reputation crumbled

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. And for 37 full chapters, we witness Job and his friends wrestling with the most difficult questions of faith:

• Why is God doing this?
• Why would He allow this?
• Where is God in this process?
• Has God abandoned me?

The Deafening Silence

Here’s what makes Job’s story so relatable to anyone experiencing unanswered prayers: for 37 chapters, Job gets nothing. No answers. No explanations. No divine intervention. Just silence.

Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar. Maybe not 37 chapters, but 37 days. Or 37 weeks. Or even 37 years of praying, pleading, and waiting for God to respond.

The silence can be deafening. It can make us question everything we thought we knew about God’s character, His love, and His promises.

But God Was Not Silent

Here’s the turning point in Job’s story—and potentially in yours: God was not silent.

In Job 38:1-3, we read: “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.'”

God breaks His silence, but not in the way Job expected. Instead of answering Job’s questions, God asks His own:

• “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” (Job 38:4)
• “Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” (Job 38:5)
• “Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?” (Job 38:35)

The Purpose of God’s Questions

God wasn’t trying to humiliate Job or belittle his suffering. He was reorienting him. God was reminding Job—and reminding us—that:

1. We are not in control (and thank God for that)
2. God is the Creator who sits on the throne
3. God’s perspective is infinitely greater than ours
4. God hears our prayers even when He seems silent

What Job Discovered (And What We Can Too)

After encountering God, Job’s response in Job 42:5 is profound: “My ears had heard of you before, but now my eyes have seen you.”

Job moved from knowing about God to experiencing God. His suffering, his questions, his wrestling—none of it was wasted. Through the struggle, Job gained something more valuable than answers: he gained a deeper, more intimate relationship with God Himself.

This is the journey we’re invited into at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes. Our mission is to be the change as Jesus has changed us, and we live this out through “Just 3”:

• Study to love and know God
• Share to know and love others
• Serve as love in action

God Knows Your Name

Here’s what we want you to know if you’re struggling with unanswered prayers or God’s apparent silence: God has not forgotten you.

Matthew 10:30 tells us that “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” That’s how intimately God knows you. He’s not distant. He’s not unaware. He’s not uncaring.

Sometimes God’s silence isn’t absence—it’s invitation. An invitation to:

• Trust Him more deeply
• Know Him more intimately
• Depend on Him more completely

You’re Not Alone in the Struggle

At Lakeview Christian Church, we create space for honest questions and real struggles. We don’t expect you to have it all together or to pretend everything is fine when it’s not.

Faith isn’t the absence of questions—it’s trusting God in the midst of them.

Whether you’re experiencing the wonder of God’s presence or wrestling with His silence, you’re welcome here. We’re a community committed to walking together through every season of faith.

Moving Forward with Hope

If you’re in a season of waiting, of unanswered prayers, of divine silence, remember:

1. You’re not far from God—even in your questions
2. God has not forgotten your name—He knows you intimately
3. You’re not alone—Scripture is full of people who wrestled with God
4. Silence doesn’t mean absence—God is working even when you can’t see it
5. Your struggle has purpose—it’s drawing you into deeper relationship with Him

Job’s story reminds us that God is bigger than our understanding, closer than our fears, and more faithful than our doubts. And just like Job, we can move from merely hearing about God to truly seeing Him—even in the midst of our hardest seasons.

Choose Connection Over Performance

In a world obsessed with productivity and performance, Scripture offers a refreshingly simple truth: we have to choose to abide in Christ. This foundational principle from Psalm 1 and John 15 reveals that spiritual fruitfulness isn’t about trying harder—it’s about staying connected.

The reality is beautifully straightforward: when we remain in Christ, good fruit flows naturally. When we disconnect, bad fruit follows. This isn’t complicated theology; it’s the heart of authentic Christian living.

The Rat Race vs. Simple Faith

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we understand the pressure many believers face. Are you caught up in the spiritual rat race? Do you constantly try to prove your worth to Jesus? Do you stress about every little decision, wondering, “Should I do this? Does God want me to do this?”

There’s a better way: simple faith.

Instead of exhausting ourselves with religious performance, Jesus invites us to trust Him, remain in Him, and trust that He will put us exactly where He wants us. This is the essence of our mission to be the change as Jesus has changed us through our “Just 3” approach: Study, Share, and Serve.

What Does It Mean to Abide?

The concept of abiding—or remaining—in Christ is central to spiritual health. John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Notice Jesus doesn’t command us to produce fruit. He doesn’t demand we manufacture spiritual growth through sheer willpower. Our only job is to remain connected to the vine. When we do, fruit production becomes His work, not ours.

This transforms everything. We’re no longer striving to earn God’s approval or stressing over whether we’re doing enough. We simply stay connected through prayer, Scripture, worship, and community.

Rely Only on Jesus

Our thought for today is clear: rely only on Jesus—not on your performance, not on your failures, and not on the hustle and bustle of religious activity. Cast aside the pressure to measure up and focus on the only thing we’re called to do: remain in Jesus.

This doesn’t mean we become passive or lazy in our faith. Rather, it means our activity flows from intimacy, not insecurity. When we study God’s Word, we’re not checking boxes—we’re deepening our connection to the vine. When we share our faith with others, we’re not fulfilling quotas—we’re overflowing with what we’ve received. When we serve, we’re not earning favor—we’re expressing love in action.

The Freedom of Abiding

There’s incredible freedom in this truth. You don’t have to wonder if you’re doing enough for God. You don’t have to compare your spiritual journey to others. You don’t have to manufacture fruit through religious performance.

Your only responsibility is to stay connected.

When you abide in Christ through consistent time in His Word, authentic prayer, and genuine community, the fruit will come. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) aren’t achievements you earn—they’re the natural result of remaining in the vine.

Practical Steps to Abide

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we encourage simple, sustainable practices:

• Study: Spend time in God’s Word daily to love and know Him better
• Share: Connect with others authentically to know and love them
• Serve: Put love into action through practical service

These aren’t performance metrics—they’re pathways to deeper connection with Christ.

The Choice Is Yours

Psalm 1 presents two paths: the way of the righteous who delight in God’s Word and the way of the wicked who drift from truth. The difference isn’t perfection versus failure—it’s connection versus disconnection.

Which path will you choose?

Will you exhaust yourself trying to prove your worth, or will you rest in the simple truth that your worth is already established in Christ? Will you stress over every decision, or will you trust that as you remain in Him, He guides your steps?

The invitation stands: abide in Christ, and watch good fruit flow naturally from your life. That’s not just good theology—it’s the abundant life Jesus promised.

Proclaiming Jesus Through Communion at Lakeview Christian Church

Every Sunday at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we gather around the communion table. But this sacred moment is far more than religious routine—it’s a powerful proclamation that changes everything.

More Than a Ritual: The Power of Proclamation

First Corinthians 11:26 reminds us: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again.” Notice that word—proclaim. When we take communion, we’re not just remembering the past. We’re declaring a present reality and announcing a future hope.

We’re saying to the world: Jesus died. Jesus rose. Jesus is coming back.

This isn’t about habit or tradition. It’s about proclamation—making God the forefront of our lives and reminding ourselves that we are all in for Jesus.

The All-In Commitment

At Lakeview Christian Church, we believe in going all in for Christ. Our mission is simple: Be the change as Jesus has changed us. We live this out through “Just 3″—Study, Share, and Serve.

But here’s the truth: going all in isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a weekly, daily, moment-by-moment choice to surrender everything to Jesus.

Every Sunday when we gather for communion, we get a fresh opportunity to recommit. We get to “re-up” our commitment to Jesus, unified together in the blood of Christ. We raise the banner high and proclaim Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Why Weekly Communion Matters

Some churches take communion monthly or quarterly. At Lakeview, we practice it every Lord’s Day. Why? Because we need the constant reminder.

We need to remember that:

• Jesus’ sacrifice was complete – His death on the cross paid for all our sins
• We are unified as one body – The bread and cup connect us to believers around the world
• Jesus is returning – We proclaim His death “until He comes again”

Communion keeps us grounded in the gospel. It prevents our faith from becoming stale or routine. It calls us back to the cross every single week.

God Is Moving Today

When we witness people giving their lives to Christ, being baptized, or joining the church family, it’s spectacular. God is moving in powerful ways at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes.

But the reality is this: they’re not the only ones who need to go all in.

Every believer—whether you’ve followed Jesus for decades or days—needs to continually surrender. We all need to examine our hearts and ask: Am I truly all in? Have I held anything back from Jesus?

Romans 12:1 calls us to this kind of total commitment: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Unified in the Blood of Christ

There’s something powerful about taking communion together as a church family. We’re not isolated individuals—we’re unified in the blood of Christ.

When we share the bread and cup, we’re declaring:

• We belong to Jesus – “I am His”
• We belong to each other – One body, one family
• We’re committed to the mission – Study, Share, Serve

This unity isn’t based on our perfection. It’s based on Christ’s finished work on the cross. We come to the table as forgiven sinners, made righteous through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Your Invitation to Go All In

Today, you have a choice. You can take communion out of habit, going through the motions without engaging your heart. Or you can use this moment to truly proclaim Jesus as Lord.

As you take the bread, remember His broken body—broken for you. As you drink the cup, remember His shed blood—poured out for the forgiveness of your sins.

And then make the declaration: I am all in.

All in with my time. All in with my resources. All in with my relationships. All in with my future. All in for Jesus.

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re committed to being the change as Jesus has changed us. We study to love and know God. We share to know and love others. We serve as love in action.

This is what it means to go all in.

Will you join us in proclaiming Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords—not just with your words, but with your whole life?

From Dry Bones to Living Hope

Have you ever felt spiritually lifeless? Like you’re going through the motions of faith but lacking real power? The story of Pentecost reveals how God transforms dry bones into a living, breathing army—and it’s the same power available to you today.

The Meaning Behind the Wind

When the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost in Acts 2, Scripture describes it as “a rushing wind.” This isn’t just poetic language—it’s deeply significant. The Greek word pneuma means wind, spirit, and breath all at once. Similarly, the Hebrew word ruach carries the same triple meaning.

This connection takes us back to the very beginning of creation. In Genesis 2:7, God breathed His ruach into Adam, and humanity became living beings. The same divine breath that sparked life in the garden is the same Spirit that descended at Pentecost. This wasn’t a new concept—it was God completing what He started at creation.

Ezekiel’s Vision of Transformation

The prophet Ezekiel received a powerful vision that foreshadowed Pentecost. God brought him to a valley filled with dry bones—completely dead, utterly hopeless. Then God asked, “Can these bones live?”

When Ezekiel prophesied to the bones, they assembled into bodies, but something was missing. They had form but no life. Then God commanded him to prophesy to the breath (ruach), and when the Spirit entered them, they became “an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10).

This vision wasn’t just about Israel’s restoration. It was a snapshot of what God’s people would look like when the Holy Spirit descended upon them—no longer dead bones, but alive with hope because God lives within them.

The Pentecost Game-Changer

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s Spirit would hover over people, intervene in specific situations, and empower select individuals for particular tasks. Prophets, kings, and judges experienced the Spirit’s presence, but it was often temporary and selective.

Everything changed in Acts 2.

For the first time in history, the Holy Spirit didn’t just come upon believers—He entered into their hearts and took up permanent residence. This wasn’t an external force; it was an internal transformation. The promise of a new heart and new spirit that God spoke through Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:26-27) became reality.

Your Reality Today

Here’s the truth that should transform how you live: God lives in you. If you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, the same Spirit that hovered over creation, breathed life into Adam, raised Jesus from the dead, and empowered the early church now dwells within you.

You’re not waiting for God to show up. He’s already there. You’re not hoping for spiritual power. It’s already available. You’re not a pile of dry bones. You’re part of God’s living army.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). This isn’t just theological theory—it’s practical reality.

Living Spirit-Filled Lives

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe in being the change as Jesus has changed us. Through our “Just 3” mission—Study, Share, and Serve—we live out this Spirit-filled reality:

• Study to love and know God through His Word
• Share to know and love others by telling them about Jesus
• Serve through love in action, empowered by the Spirit

The same breath that created the world, the same Spirit that brought dry bones to life, the same power that launched the church at Pentecost lives in you today. The question isn’t whether God can transform you—it’s whether you’ll surrender to the Spirit already dwelling within you.

You’re not hopeless. You’re not powerless. You’re not dead bones. You’re alive in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and equipped for God’s purposes.

That’s the reality of Pentecost. That’s your reality today.

Finding Hope When Everything Feels Like an Ending

Have you ever felt like you just got something back, only to lose it again? That emotional whiplash of relief followed by loss is exactly what Jesus’ disciples experienced during His final days on earth.

The Disciples’ Dilemma

God is not in the business of staying dead. When Jesus resurrected and started appearing to His followers, their joy must have been overwhelming. “He’s back! We have Him again!” But then Jesus began telling them something they didn’t want to hear: He wasn’t going to stay with them forever.

Imagine their confusion and frustration. “We just got You back, and You’re going to leave again? This isn’t fair!” The disciples felt like they were losing everything—again.

The Promise That Changes Everything

In the midst of their confusion, Jesus spoke words that seemed impossible to believe. In John 16:7, He said: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Wait—it’s to their advantage that Jesus leaves? How could that possibly be true?

We’ve All Been There

Before we judge the disciples’ confusion, let’s be honest: we’ve all stood at similar crossroads. We’ve all faced moments when something we were desperately holding onto started slipping away:

• A job that defined our identity
• A relationship we thought would last forever
• A loved one battling a life-threatening illness
• A dream that seemed to be dying

In those moments, like the disciples, we struggle to see hope. We struggle to understand what comes next. The future feels uncertain, even terrifying.

The Helper We Didn’t Know We Needed

Here’s the truth Jesus was trying to help His disciples understand: sometimes what feels like loss is actually preparation for something better.

Jesus wasn’t abandoning them. He was making way for the Holy Spirit—the Helper, the Comforter, the One who would not just be with them but would live within them.

Think about it: when Jesus walked the earth, He could only be in one place at one time. But through the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ presence would be available to all believers, everywhere, all the time. The disciples couldn’t see it yet, but Jesus’ departure was actually the gateway to something more powerful than they could imagine.

What This Means for Us Today

When you’re standing at a crossroad, feeling like everything is falling apart, remember the disciples’ story. What feels like an ending might actually be a beginning. What looks like loss might be making room for gain.

The same Holy Spirit Jesus promised to His disciples is available to you today. He is:

• Your Comforter in times of grief
• Your Guide when you don’t know which way to turn
• Your Strength when you feel too weak to go on
• Your Advocate who intercedes for you

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe in living out our faith through “Just 3”: Study, Share, and Serve. This story reminds us why studying God’s Word is so essential—it helps us understand God’s perspective when ours is clouded by pain and uncertainty.

Your Next Step

If you’re in a season where everything feels like it’s slipping away, take heart. God specializes in resurrection. He’s not in the business of staying dead—and He won’t let your hope stay dead either.

The Helper is here. The Holy Spirit is available. And what seems like your greatest loss might become your greatest transformation.

The Divine Pattern: “Do Not Fear”

Throughout Scripture, whenever the divine encounters humanity, a familiar pattern emerges. Almost without exception, the messenger’s first words are “do not fear.”

When the angel appeared to Gideon, the message was clear: “Peace be to you, do not fear.” Mary received the same greeting: “Do not be afraid.” The shepherds in the field heard “Fear not” before the glorious announcement of Christ’s birth. Even when Jesus walked on water toward His terrified disciples, His words were “Take heart, do not be afraid.”

This repeated phrase reveals something profound about the human condition—we are prone to fear when confronted with the holy, the unexplainable, the divine.

A Radical Shift: “Peace Be With You”

But something remarkable happens in the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. When He appears to His disciples behind locked doors, He doesn’t say “do not fear.” Instead, He simply says, “Shalom—peace be with you.”

This isn’t just a different greeting. It’s a fundamental shift in how God relates to His people. Jesus doesn’t acknowledge fear as a reasonable response anymore. He doesn’t need to calm them down first. Instead, He announces peace as an already-present reality.

Why the change?

The Power to Overcome Fear

The Apostle Paul helps us understand this transformation in Romans 8:15: “You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, Abba Father.”

Jesus is launching His disciples into what we might call “the confidence of the Spirit.” Everything has shifted. The game has changed. No longer do they have to be reminded not to fear because the presence of God Himself is now inside of them.

Before the resurrection, the disciples needed external reassurance. They needed to hear “don’t be afraid” because they were encountering God from the outside. But now, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, God’s presence lives within them. The power that overcomes fear isn’t something they have to reach for—it’s already resident in their hearts.

Living in Post-Resurrection Reality

For followers of Christ today, this truth carries transformative power. We live in a post-resurrection world where we have perpetual access to God’s Spirit. Yes, we’re human. Yes, we still wrestle with fear, anxiety, and stress. But here’s the difference: we don’t have to.

We have a Spirit inside us that has overcome the world. We’re not slaves to fear anymore. We’re adopted sons and daughters of the Most High—children who can cry out “Abba, Father” with confidence and intimacy.

This doesn’t mean we won’t experience fearful situations. It means we have divine power available to us in those moments. We don’t have to cave to fear. We don’t have to let anxiety control us. We simply turn it over to the One who lives within us.

The Invitation: Come As You Are

The shift from “do not fear” to “peace be with you” is an invitation to live differently. It’s a call to recognize that the presence bringing peace isn’t external—it’s internal. Christ in you, the hope of glory.

When fear whispers its questions—What if this doesn’t work out? What if I fail? What if everything falls apart?—you have access to a peace that transcends understanding. Not because your circumstances are perfect, but because the Prince of Peace dwells within you.

You are not a slave to fear anymore. You are a child of God, chosen and loved, empowered by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

So when fear knocks at your door, remember: you’ve been given the power not to fear. You carry within you the presence that changes everything.

When Grief Meets Grace

Have you ever felt so hopeless that even good news seemed impossible to believe? That’s exactly where two disciples found themselves on the road to Emmaus. They were grieving, lamenting the loss of everything they’d hoped for. And in that moment of deepest despair, Jesus showed up—breaking bread with them before vanishing from their sight.

The Biblical Pattern of Lament

The experience of these disciples mirrors the ancient biblical practice of lament found throughout Scripture. Lamentations, often called the funeral poems of the Bible, follow a powerful pattern: they begin with raw, honest grievance—”God, where were you when this happened? This is horrible. I feel hopeless and downcast”—but they always turn back to a crucial truth: God, you are good.

This turning point is beautifully captured in Lamentations 3:22-25, a passage that transforms despair into hope:

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the one who seeks him.”

Hope When We Don’t Deserve It

Here’s the revolutionary truth about God’s character: He is in the business of dealing hope—not hope when you deserve it, not hope when you’ve done something to earn it, but hope that meets you exactly where you are in your moment of despair.

The disciples on the Emmaus road weren’t looking for Jesus. They were walking away from Jerusalem, away from their shattered dreams. Yet Jesus pursued them. He walked alongside them. He opened the Scriptures to them. And when He broke bread with them, their eyes were opened to recognize Him.

New Mercies Every Morning

The promise of Lamentations 3 isn’t that we’ll never face grief, loss, or disappointment. It’s that God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning. No matter how dark yesterday was, God’s faithfulness greets you with fresh hope when you wake up.

This isn’t a shallow “think positive” message. This is the bedrock reality of who God is:

• His love prevents us from being consumed by our circumstances
• His compassion is limitless and never-ending
• His faithfulness is great, unchanging through every season
• He is good to those who hope in Him and seek Him

Where Are You Today?

I don’t know what you’re struggling with. Maybe it’s:

• A relationship that’s falling apart
• A diagnosis that’s shaken your world
• Financial pressures that feel crushing
• Dreams that have died
• Questions that have no easy answers

Whatever you’re facing, know this: God meets you in that moment of despair. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You don’t have to have your faith perfectly intact. You don’t have to pretend everything’s okay.

The Lord Is Your Portion

When you can say with the psalmist, “The Lord is my portion,” you’re declaring that God Himself is enough. Not God plus financial security. Not God plus perfect health. Not God plus all your dreams coming true. Just God.

And when God is your portion, you can wait for Him. You can hope in Him. You can seek Him—even when your heart is broken, even when you don’t understand, even when the grief feels overwhelming.

The Invitation to Hope

The same Jesus who walked the Emmaus road walks with you today. He meets you in your grief. He opens the Scriptures to restore your hope. And He offers Himself as the source of compassion that never fails.

His mercies are new this morning. Will you receive them?

When God Seems Silent

Have you ever experienced a season when God felt silent? When your prayers seemed to hit the ceiling and bounce back? When heaven appeared to be on mute?

The disciples knew this feeling all too well. After watching Jesus die on the cross Friday afternoon, they spent Saturday in devastating silence. Their Messiah was gone. Their hope seemed buried. God appeared absent. This “Silent Saturday” represents those dark moments we all face—when grief overwhelms us, when answers don’t come, and when faith feels impossible.

But here’s the truth that transforms everything: silence doesn’t mean the story is over.

Rejoicing Comes in the Morning

Psalm 30:5 beautifully frames the Easter story: “Sing praises to the Lord, you His faithful people. Praise His holy name, for His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Early Sunday morning, everything changed. Jesus rose from the dead. The tomb that held His body now stood empty. Death, which seemed to have the final word, was defeated. The silence was shattered by the greatest news in human history: He is risen!

This wasn’t just good news for the disciples—it’s life-changing news for us today.

Why We Rejoice Today

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we gather every Sunday not to mourn what was lost, but to celebrate what was won. We worship a living Savior, not a dead prophet. We serve a God who specializes in turning mourning into dancing, ashes into beauty, and death into life.

The resurrection proves several powerful truths:

God keeps His promises. Jesus said He would rise on the third day, and He did. Every promise in Scripture is backed by the same faithfulness that raised Christ from the grave.

Your pain isn’t permanent. Just as Sunday followed Saturday, your season of weeping will give way to rejoicing. Your current struggle doesn’t define your future.

Death doesn’t win. Because Jesus conquered the grave, we have hope beyond this life. Grief is real, but it’s not final. For believers, death is simply a doorway to eternal life with Christ.

Our Mission: Be the Change

This resurrection reality fuels everything we do at Lakeview Christian Church. Our mission is simple: Be the change as Jesus has changed us. We live this out through “Just 3”:

Study – We study God’s Word to love and know Him more deeply. Understanding the resurrection story transforms how we view every circumstance.

Share – We share the good news to know and love others. Just as the women couldn’t keep silent about the empty tomb, we can’t keep quiet about what Jesus has done.

Serve – We serve as love in action. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead now works in us to love and serve our Portage Lakes community and beyond.

Your Invitation to Rejoice

Perhaps you’re in your own “Silent Saturday” right now. Maybe you’re facing loss, confusion, or disappointment. Maybe you’ve been waiting for God to show up, wondering if He’s listening at all.

Here’s your reminder: Sunday is coming. In fact, for those who trust in Jesus, Sunday is already here. The resurrection means that no matter how dark your Friday was or how silent your Saturday feels, rejoicing is available right now.

You don’t have to wait until everything is perfect. You don’t need to have all the answers. The empty tomb declares that God is faithful, hope is real, and your story isn’t over.

Join Us This Sunday

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe that weeping may last for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. We invite you to experience the joy of resurrection Sunday—not just once a year at Easter, but every single week as we gather to worship our risen Savior.

Because our God is here. The tomb is empty. And it’s time to rejoice.

The Old Way: Separated from God’s Presence

For thousands of years, humanity lived under a system that kept us at a distance from God. As sinners, we couldn’t simply walk into God’s presence. The process was complex, costly, and required a mediator.

Here’s how it worked: You and I would bring our offerings—usually a lamb or something that cost us dearly—to the high priest. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sacrifice these offerings on the altar in exchange for our sins.

We couldn’t do this for ourselves. We weren’t holy enough to enter God’s presence. A thick curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, symbolizing the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity. We were divided, separated, and dependent on a human mediator to approach God on our behalf.

This system reminded us constantly of our sin and our separation from God. Year after year, sacrifice after sacrifice, the barrier remained.

The New Way: Jesus Tears Down the Barrier

But when Jesus died on the cross, everything changed. He didn’t just modify the old system—He completely transformed it. As the Gospel accounts tell us, at the moment of Jesus’ death, that massive temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).

God Himself ripped down the barrier.

Hebrews 10:19-22 beautifully explains what this means for us today: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

What This Means for You Today

1. You Have Direct Access to God

You no longer need a human priest to mediate between you and God. Through Jesus Christ, you can approach God’s throne of grace directly, confidently, and at any time (Hebrews 4:16).

2. You Don’t Have to Clean Up First

Notice the passage says we come with “hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” You don’t have to get your life together before approaching God. Jesus’ blood has already cleansed you. Come as you are.

3. You Can Approach with Confidence

The old system was filled with fear and uncertainty. But now we approach “with full assurance that faith brings.” We’re not hoping God will accept us—we know He does because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

4. The Sacrifice Is Complete

Unlike the old system that required repeated sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). The debt is paid. The work is finished. The barrier is removed.

Living in Light of the Torn Curtain

Understanding what Jesus did at the cross should transform how we live:

• Prayer becomes personal conversation rather than formal ritual
• Worship flows from relationship rather than religious obligation
• Guilt is replaced with gratitude as we realize the price Jesus paid
• We approach God boldly knowing we’re welcomed as beloved children

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe this truth should change everything about how we relate to God. We don’t have to live at a distance anymore. We don’t have to wonder if God hears us or accepts us.

The curtain is torn. The door is open. God is accessible.

Your Response Matters

The cross demands a response. Will you accept this incredible gift of access to God through Jesus Christ? Will you stop living like the barrier is still up and embrace the intimate relationship God offers?

Jesus didn’t just die to forgive your sins—He died to bring you close to the Father. Don’t waste another day living at a distance from the God who tore down every barrier to be with you.

The curtain is torn. Come close.

Discovering Your Place in the Crucifixion Story

When we think about the crucifixion of Jesus, we often picture three crosses on a hill. We know the story—Jesus in the middle, two criminals on either side. But have you ever considered that you and I are represented on one of those crosses? The choice of which one is entirely up to us.

The Two Criminals: Two Different Responses

On that fateful day at Golgotha, two criminals hung beside Jesus, each facing the same circumstances, yet making vastly different choices:

The First Criminal chose to reject Jesus and His love. Despite being in the very presence of the Savior, he hardened his heart and mocked the One who could save him.

The Second Criminal chose to respond and acknowledge who Jesus truly was. In his final moments, he recognized Jesus as Lord and received the promise of paradise.

Same situation. Same opportunity. Two completely different eternal outcomes.

An Ancient Choice That Still Applies Today

This isn’t a new concept. Long before Jesus walked the earth, God presented humanity with the same fundamental choice. In Deuteronomy 30:19, we read:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life that both you and your descendants may live.”

The same theology that applied thousands of years ago still applies today. God has always given us the freedom to choose—to accept His love or reject it.

The Love That Chose Us First

Here’s the beautiful truth we must remember: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We didn’t have to clean ourselves up first. We didn’t have to prove ourselves worthy. Jesus chose to love us when we were at our worst.

The question is: How will we respond to that love?

Which Cross Do You Choose?

The Cross of Rejection

Like the first criminal, we can choose to reject Jesus’s sacrifice. We can harden our hearts, ignore His love, and face eternity separated from God. This choice leads to spiritual death and eternal consequences.

The Cross of Reception

Like the second criminal, we can choose to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior. We can humble ourselves, accept His forgiveness, and receive the promise of eternal life. This choice leads to transformation, hope, and paradise.

The Cross of Redemption

The middle cross—Jesus’s cross—represents redemption for all who believe. It’s the cross that makes our choice possible. Without Jesus’s sacrifice, we would have no option but condemnation.

Making Your Choice Today

The beauty of God’s grace is that it’s never too late to choose life. The criminal on the cross made his decision in his final moments and heard Jesus say, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

But don’t wait until your last breath. Choose today. Choose life. Choose Jesus.

Your Next Step

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe in being the change as Jesus has changed us. We live this out through our “Just 3” commitment:

• Study to love and know God
• Share to know and love others
• Serve as love in action

If you’re ready to choose the cross of reception—to respond to Christ’s love and acknowledge Him as Lord—we invite you to take that step today.

The choice is yours. Life or death. Blessing or curse. Which cross will you choose?