Joy in the Morning: Finding Hope in the Promise of Easter

By Onyinyechi U.

Last year, two days before Easter, I learned that someone I knew was very ill. He was one of the assistant cross-country coaches at my high school, and I had spent two seasons under him. During the latter season, I had discovered that he was struggling with cancer. Nevertheless, I somehow assumed that he would still be back to coach when fall came around again.

But now I was reading this news—his condition was worsening. People all over our team’s social media group were wishing him well, hoping he would recover. Quickly, I turned to God and prayed about the situation. The following day, Holy Saturday, I checked our team’s group and there saw a new post: our coach had passed away.

I went to bed feeling heavy with sorrow. Even though, from what I learned, he had been a Christian, I still felt both sad and frustrated. It was hard to realize that he was gone.

On Easter morning I attended church, not knowing that a special comfort lay in store for me. For the church was singing this chorus— “There will be joy in the morning.”

Tears sprang to my eyes. How true! Despite the sorrow that I was feeling right now, I could be glad that my coach was enjoying the beauty of heaven right then. Suffering was over for him, and he was experiencing eternal joy.

For some people, Easter can feel like a season of grief as they grapple with different struggles in their lives. Christians may be outwardly attempting to rejoice but inwardly wondering what there is to be happy about in a world of such sorrow.

We see a similar situation in Scripture. In John 11, Jesus learns that Lazarus, a dear friend, is sick. When He arrives at His friend’s house, Lazarus has already died. Yet Jesus speaks these words to the grieving Martha in verses 25 and 26: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (Bible Gateway).

In this chapter, Jesus physically raises Lazarus from the dead. But in this passage, He refers to something more than physical existence—eternal life. Anyone who trusts in Him will never “die” but will continue to live in God’s presence eternally. What comfort this brings us as we realize that we need never fear death!

On Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the hope of our faith: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (Bible Gateway). Scripture assures us that every Christian who has died will, like Christ, be raised up—and then, as Paul writes, “The saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (Bible Gateway).

Through the story I shared, I do not mean to deny that God is a healer or hint that He deliberately caused the illness from which my coach suffered. Like Mary and Martha, I do not understand everything that happens. But, this Easter, I find hope and comfort in Christ’s victory over death. Let us give Him our grief and draw support from His promises. For after the sorrow of Good Friday and the lament of Holy Saturday, there will be joy on Easter morning!

Onyinyechi U. lives in Pennsylvania with her parents and two siblings. She is in eleventh grade. This is her fourth year at NSA and her second year on the Navigator. In her free time, she enjoys writing novels and poetry. 

✝️Spiritual Life, 🗓️SeasonalEIC NSA2024-2025, April 2025 Publication