“Do not lie to one another,
seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge
after the image of its creator.”
Colossians 3:9 and 10

My resurrection journey has been a journey of ongoing transformation by continually putting on my new self. 

A friend once said to me, Sue, stop being so hard on yourself. One area I tended to be hard on myself was in my doubts. I too often identified with the father of the of the young boy with the unclean spirit in Mark 9. In his desperation the father pleads with Jesus to heal his son. You hear his heart in his words, if you can do anything … have compassion … help us. Mark 9:22.

The man’s belief and his doubt coexisted and collided. He was human. He was honest. I get that. I’m glad in his honest humility, belief won out. “I believe, help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24. Jesus healed his son.

Like the father in Mark 9, I have doubts.
Like the father, I’m growing in faith.
Both can coexist and collide

I am hard on myself when I let my feelings run wild, override truth, and corrupt my beliefs. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself.”

The disciples struggled as well. When Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection, he said, “These are my words that I spoke to you … He opened their minds to understand the scriptures … Thus it is written …” Luke 24: 44, 45, 46 (Italics mine). Jesus was reminding the disciples to remember and to trust what they’ve seen and heard.

I believe in the resurrection. I always have. I love celebrating it every Easter. The resurrection is the key to the gospel! Without the resurrection, there is no life!

And like those first disciples, I need to continually remind myself of what Jesus has said, of the scriptures, of what was written. I need to remind myself of gospel truth.

Paul Tripp said it this way, “No-one is more influential in your life than you are, because no-one talks to you more than you do.”

In my humanity, I can often listen to my doubts instead of talking truth to myself. God reminds me of my need to listen to him, to listen to and trust truth. “It is impossible for God to lie,” Hebrews 6:18.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13

The scriptures are full of promises, of hope. God has offered us the privilege of trust.

I’m experiencing new peace, new joy, new hope, and a new steadfast anchor for my soul. I’m listening to and trusting the truth recorded for me, for us.

“The Resurrection is the victory of love.”
Pope Francis

One of my favorite Easter songs is Rise My Soul; The Lord is Risen. You might want to check it out.

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2025