Living in the “But”

A devotional for Wednesday

Matthew 28:8
“They were very frightened but also filled with great joy…”

There is a powerful word at the center of the Easter story: but. The women were afraid but also filled with joy. That space between fear and joy is where many of us live. We believe in Jesus, but we still have questions. We trust God, but we still feel anxious. We celebrate, but we’re still carrying pain. Easter doesn’t erase that tension; it meets us in it. Following Jesus doesn’t mean everything instantly feels resolved. It means we learn to live in the tension of “but also.” Fear may still be present, but it is no longer the whole story. Joy begins to grow alongside it. Hope begins to take root. God is at work even when everything doesn’t feel settled yet.

Question/Challenge:
Where in your life are you living in a “but” and what might it look like to invite joy into that space?