Because He Lives, I can Face________

Can you hear it? Maybe you can visualize the hymn being played at the piano as you rise from wooden pews staring into stained glass windows. The reverberation of the chorus filling the room with hope. But what about our hearts? Can we accept that because God lives, we can face whatever is ahead?

Resurrection Everyday

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote this hymn in 1971 amid world turmoil as well as personal turmoil. Bill was struggling with his health while Gloria was expecting their third child. In their desperation, Gloria began to cry out to God and this song of hope evolved.

This song became an anthem for them not only on Easter Sunday, but everyday. It became a way of living. The original line, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow” brought Bill and Gloria through each day knowing they had strength to face the next day in Christ. What about us?

The power of God’s resurrection is not a “one and done.” The same power with which Jesus conquered death and hell is the same power that has saved us, that has resurrected us from our sorrows, grief, sin, and more. Because He lives, we can face______. I leave this blank for all of us to fill in. When we write it, when we name it, we claim hope, truth, perseverance, love, and more. Let’s begin the claiming.

Because He lives…

As you read through these, take time to reflect on what you may need to confront within yourself. No single resource can capture everything we encounter, but may this serve as a beginning—a space to name what we can face because He lives.

1)        I can face death

“Oh death where is your victory? Where is your sting?” claims Hosea 13:14. Later Paul quotes this 1 Cor. 15:55. Paul certainly faced his own closeness with death many times. But he also faced death of others, not only physically, but also spiritually.

It is beyond hard to face a terminal diagnosis for ourselves or those we love. It is heartbreaking to watch those we love make decisions we know will cause them pain and lead to death of a different kind. It is unthinkable that death would fall upon the young due to taking their own lives or tragedy striking. How can anyone face such calamities?

                  Because He lives.

Because Jesus lives does not mean that we will not feel the heartaches, the tears, the wracking grief within our bodies. It means that because He lives, we can face death or loss knowing it is not the end. We have a hope of heaven, of peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7).

2)        I can face brokenness

Most of us will try to run from the brokenness we see before us. We do not to this because we are cowards or not strong enough, but because our brains are built for survival. When something feels threatening, we want to escape it. However, escaping from what we need to face, only prolongs the very pain we are trying to eradicate.

When we face the brokenness, we allow ourselves to accept our humanity, acknowledge our own and others’ experiences without shame. In addition, knowing He lives permits us to accept that “in this world you will have trouble; but take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This creates space for us to accept the healing God has for us as well as be a support for others facing brokenness. We have the limitless opportunity to experience, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

3)        I can face letting go

Letting go does not seem hard until it does. Whatever we may be needing to release may evoke in us denial, grieving, heartache, and more. Sometimes controlling whatever is before us seems the only sense of safety and strength we have. To give it up may arouse feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability within us.

But because He lives, we can begin to loosen our grip on what we’ve been holding, trusting that God’s ways are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:8). We can learn to rest in His sovereignty and justice—moment by moment, breath by breath—until we can “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Final thoughts

We may not have language yet for everything we feel, and that is okay. We may only have fragments—feelings, memories, questions—but even those are worthy of our attention. Because He lives, we can live in the power of the Resurrection daily. We can with certainty know He meets us where we are, offering peace where there has been confusion, compassion where there has been dismissal, and presence where there has been pain. Because He lives, we truly have the chance to face tomorrow in hope, truth, peace, grace, and mercy.