Psalm 62's central message is to trust in God with all one's soul and to wait silently for him. Throughout this Psalm, God is described as a rock, a fortress and salvation to those who trust in him. David also contrasts God's reliability with the unreliability of people, who may be deceitful and may be overcome by worldly pursuits of riches. The psalm concludes with a reminder that God exhibits an enduring and merciful love, while also offering a hopeful assurance of divine justice.

Psalm 61 provides some strategies for enduring seasons of discouragement and distance from God by showing us how to cry out in prayer and take refuge in him. David reminds us that God is both strong and tender—our rock, tower, dwelling place, and sheltering wings. God is experienced as a refuge through his promises which find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Christ was the one who experienced the ultimate exile from sin so that we would never have to. In the gospel of Christ we find security, hope, and joy that leads us back to God in worship.

In Luke 24:36-53 we learn how the resurrection of Jesus is both a historical reality and a deeply personal, transformative truth.  The resurrection turns sorrow into joy, affirms the hope of a real, embodied resurrection life for believers, and commissions us as Spirit-empowered witnesses to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations. Far from being a distant theological concept, the resurrection has profound implications for everyday life. It assures us of peace with God, promises redemption of our deepest pain, and invites us to live with hope and purpose as we await the return of our King.

In Psalm 60, David provides a roadmap for dealing with hard things. While it can be difficult to understand, God is ultimately in control of what a person faces in life and often uses times of struggle to reveal sin, build faith, and strengthen our trust in Him. During suffering and setback, God’s people should not lose sight of their purpose in the world – to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ until he returns. Recalling God’s sovereignty and past goodness can help us endure suffering while we patiently wait for God’s deliverance. And finally, our ultimate hope in the midst of hard things is God alone, who will someday restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us (1 Pet 5:10).

In Luke 24:13–35 we follow two discouraged disciples traveling on the road who unknowingly encounter the risen Jesus. Through their story, we are challenged to consider how our expectations and misunderstandings might blind us to Christ’s presence in our lives. What kind of Jesus are you looking for? Are you seeking someone to help you or someone to redeem you? As Jesus opens the Scriptures to these travelers their hearts burn within them, and they finally recognize him during the ordinary act of breaking bread. This invites us to recognize the risen Lord not only in dramatic signs, but in the quiet, faithful rhythms of Scripture, community, and grace. Have you encountered the risen Christ? If so, who can you tell?

Luke 24:1-12 captures the moment when a group of women were stunned by what they didn't find in the tomb of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus shook the world with life. This means Christians have much more than the profound sayings of a religious leader who died long ago. Christians relate with a living Lord through the living word. The Lord still speaks, transforms, and calls each of us into new beginnings. The empty tomb means the story of Jesus isn’t over and there is room in his story for you. What do you see when you look in the empty tomb?

As Jesus breathes his last breath in Luke 23:44–56, his death is marked by signs that prove its profound significance: darkness covers the land, and the temple curtain is torn. Jesus, the Light of the World, enters into the darkness of sin and death so that we might enter into the light and life of God. His final cry is not one of defeat, but one of trust in the Father and triumph over evil. His death cry was not one of earthly defeat but eternal hope. What do you hear in Jesus’s cry? Do you hear a man defeated, or do you hear the voice of a Savior?

Luke 23:26-43 describes the crucifixion of Jesus, focusing on his suffering, the reactions of those around him, and the interaction with a repentant thief. It highlights Jesus's forgiveness of his executioners, the mocking of the crowd and soldiers, and the promise of paradise to the thief who confessed faith in him. 

As Jesus is being crucified, he tells the crowd not to weep for him, but for themselves and their children, as difficult times are coming. The passage emphasizes Jesus's role as a suffering servant who, even in his final moments, offers forgiveness and salvation. It also highlights the contrast between the mocking and unbelief of many and the faith of the repentant thief.
Are you showing love and forgiveness toward those you come into contact with this week?

In Acts 28:1-16, Paul concludes a long and tumultuous voyage to Rome, the heart of the Roman Empire. Along the way Paul experiences trial and suffering in the form of shipwreck and snake bite. Despite these difficulties, that are both real and painful, God brings Paul safely to Rome where the gospel continues to advance. The various difficulties Paul endured along the way opened the door for gospel opportunities. Let Paul’s journey be an encouragement to you that through suffering (individual or corporate) God will bring about gospel opportunities. Our trials are never meaningless; God will use them for his glory and purpose. Where can you step into occasions for gospel ministry this week? 

In Luke 23:13-25, Jesus is on trial before Pilate. In a shocking reversal, Pilate finds Jesus innocent while the Jews demand his crucifixion. Even a historically ruthless and pagan governor can see Jesus’ innocence, while those who were supposed to recognize their Messiah condemn him to death. Although Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered against Jesus, God ultimately determined that it would happen this way. How the Scriptures describe this event reveals that God sovereignly ordains all that comes to pass, yet people still freely choose what they want and will be held accountable for their choices. Exactly how this works is beyond human comprehension; God is infinite, we are not.
This section of scripture concludes with Barabbas, an insurrectionist and murder, being released while Jesus is condemned. In the release of Barabbas, we see a powerful picture of the substitutionary atonement of Christ in which the record of debt that stood against God’s people with its legal demands is set aside, as Jesus is nailed to the cross (Col 2:13-14). Who can you tell about the good news of Jesus this week?