There is a line in the Easter story that I had never noticed or paid attention to. But this year, it stuck out to me. It happens right after the women hear that Jesus is risen, but before they actually see him. It says:

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy… (Matthew 28.8)

Faith is living with fear and great joy. While faith starts in the dark, it doesn’t stay there.

It was women in grief and fear that were the first ones to begin living with great joy. But it was a choice they made that day, to believe that good news. To believe Jesus was alive and ahead of them and making a way for them. To keep walking.