When Will Your Third Day Be?

When my pastor preached this morning, he mentioned the resurrection of Jesus and went into detail about the fact that Jesus was crucified and rose again the third day - one of the basic and most important tenets of Christianity.  But this time, he had a deeper, thought-provoking revelation about the resurrection.  He said that our own personal third day could occur at any time.  For some, that could mean going from spiritual death to salvation.  For others, it could be a transition from illness to health or poverty to wealth.  However, I immediately thought of my emotional state. 

I can imagine starting off with a positive attitude and hope for the future, but then having those feelings "crucified" by circumstances or the actions of others.  I feel dead on the inside, like my soul has been buried and left to rot.  All I see is darkness, and I think that it is the end of the line for me.  But then, that one kind word of advice, that one big bear hug, that one smile is all it takes to revive me.  My faith increases, and I believe that I will rise.  The next day comes, and although nothing has happened yet, I still believe that I will rise.  Then, on the third day, something wonderful happens.  I realize that I had the power to get up all along.  No one's holding me there but me, so I could get up at any time.  I rise from my place of despair, and joy warms me up like the noonday sun.  My wounds are healed, and I am clothed in encouragement and peace.

Since life has its ups and downs, I wonder if there is more than one third day.   Maybe there is.  I remember the first time I lost a job, the first time I broke up with a guy and the first time I was in a car accident, and even though I felt like the world had ended at each of those moments, I survived all of those.  The way I see it, if every major obstable is like an emotional crucifixion, the average person could have dozens of third days.  The point is, which moments in my life should stand out the most - the crucifixions or the resurrections?  I think we all know the answer to that.