Sunday’s on the Way
When our daughter was in her early teens, she and her best friend had a crush on a Christian artist named Carman. I heard Carman was going on tour, so I looked up his schedule and found out he was performing only 20 minutes from our home. I called the parents of my daughter’s friend and we planned to surprise the girls with tickets to the concert. When we gave them the tickets, they screamed so loud, a person two blocks away could have heard their delight.
My favorite song Carman performed that night was “Sunday’s on the Way.” It’s about Jesus’s death and resurrection. In the song, the demons are planning a party on Friday night to celebrate their crucifixion of Jesus, but Satan is not at ease. He places a call to his faithful friend “Grave” on Friday night to make sure Jesus is dead. Grave reassures him, but Satan is still haunted by Jesus’s words before his death: “I’m gonna live again, you’ll see.” The lyrics go on to say:
When problems try to bury you
and make it hard to pray
It may seem like Friday night
but Sunday’s on the way!
On Saturday night Satan is still unsure that Jesus remains dead and in the tomb. He places another call to Grave, who reassures him Jesus is still dead. But the Lord’s words continue to ring in Satan’s ears that “Sunday’s on the way.”
On Sunday, Satan’s hands tremble as he dials the number of Grave. He fearfully asks Grave if things have changed, reminding his friend about Lazarus being raised from the dead. Tired of the phone calls, Grave tells Satan to stop being such a wreck and assures him death has had the last say.
Then the music begins to crescendo and Grave yells “Oh no, oh no!” as the stone rolls away. Gabriel appears and triumphantly declares, “I tell ya he’s alive and well with RESURRECTION POWER!”
At this point in the song, the entire audience jumped to our feet with resounding applause and shouts of praise. We know that with His resurrection power, we can defeat anything the enemy tries to put in our path. Those “Friday nights” are defeated because Sunday is here to stay. Thank You, Jesus.
Let me say it again, friend: “It may seem like Friday night, but Sunday’s on the way.”
There are times in our lives when we have difficult trials that seem to last forever and try to bury us. It could be a broken marriage, the loss of a loved one, financial concerns, drama in the family, or health issues that attempt to break us and force us to retreat. Sometimes our prayers seem to only hit the ceiling while tears of sadness flow. It is “Friday night” and the enemy is snaking into our lives in order to get a foothold on the situation.
But Satan is not stupid; he knows that “Sundays” are always on the way in the lives of believers. No matter how bad the problem is, the Lord gives a promise that He hears your prayers. ”But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer” (Psalm 66:19 ESV). “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their trouble” (Psalm 34:17 NIV).
When we are in the pit of despair with seemingly no way out, the Lord reaches down, puts His arms around us, and lifts us onto a solid place. “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me. . .” (Psalm 40:2 NLT).
As painful as a season may be, it is only a season. We have no idea how long this season will last, but we know God will replace our hopelessness with hope. The Lord takes His loving hand, wipes those tears of sadness, and refuses to allow us to be defeated. We are promised joy will once again reign. “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NKJV).
God sent His Son to live as a man and experience the same emotions that we experience. But because of His resurrection life, He defeated the enemy and all the plans the enemy has for His children. Jesus is at the right hand of God, but the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us (Romans 8:34). We receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, to help us endure those “Friday nights” (Acts 1:8). It is not by our power or might but by the Holy Spirit, who gives us victorious power to overcome the physical and emotional problems which at times may seem insurmountable (Zechariah 4:6).
My friends, if you are in the midst of a difficult trial, remember that it may feel like “Friday night,” but Sunday is on the way for you. “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one” (Psalm 28:7-8 NIV).
Let’s pray:
Father, I thank You for sending Your Son to live on this earth as a man and experience the same pain we experience. I thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to help us be overcomers. I thank You that Friday nights last for a season and your promise guarantees Sunday’s on the way. I praise You for Your overwhelming love and thank You for caring for every part of my life. Nothing goes unnoticed by You. Thank You for seeing us through every trial so we will once again experience the joy of Your Presence. I praise You for Resurrection Sunday. Amen.
