If Christianity is a mystery to you, then the term Good Friday will really knock you for a loop. But if you are one of the redeemed, it makes so much sense because it is the day your Savior died for you. Thus, the term “saved” takes on relevance because his death is the perfect, acceptable propitiation for your soul to fly heavenward. So, how are the faithful faring on this strange and unusual Good Friday 2020? Is the day still good for believers trapped in their homes as a deadly virus swirls around them?

Without a doubt, Christians are active this year – perhaps more so than in previous years. “Hundreds of thousands of people of all faiths are taking to social media to say they will join in worldwide fasting and prayer on Good Friday for relief from the global COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the Deseret News. The Church of Latter-day Saints launched this particular effort, but many other people are joining the endeavor. “I am Egyptian and a member of the Coptic Church. I will fast and pray with you. God help us,” one person posted on social media.

Others will gather their family in front of the television to watch “Jesus – A Special Easter Event” filmed at the Sight and Sound Theatre and airing Good Friday through Easter Sunday on the TBN Network. At least outwardly, it seems believers are taking this as an opportunity to put their faith in action. But what about inwardly? How has their belief in the Resurrection of Christ Jesus amplified – or been tested?

One Christian wrote to me, “This time has given me much needed space and opportunity just to dwell and meditate on Jesus. I’ve spent even more time praying and praising him because I’ve actually had time to notice the small flowers blooming in my yard and be still and watch butterflies glide by. It has been a period of personal spiritual renewal and quality time with my kids.” Another echoed that sentiment with, “Coinciding with Lent, the COVID-19 lockdown has given me extra time to simply sit quietly with Him. It is perhaps helping us all to Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10, KJV).”

A long-time Christian woman answered my query with, “How are we faring? As followers of Jesus Christ, our faith gives us great peace during these uncertain times. It helps enormously with the day to day challenges we face.”  Yet another texted that she was not experiencing a sense of panic. “I am not fearful,” she explained. “I feel grateful to have my health, and this time with my family.”

The Scriptures, of course, offer a plethora of verses to soothe the soul in such a time as this. Timothy asserts: for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7b, ESV). From the book of Isaiah, there is this treasured verse: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10, NIV). Again from Isaiah: You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3, NLT).

When you strip away all the fluff of life – the social, cultural, and business events – and you drill down to the basics, it may be a perfect time to flex that faith muscle. And should you find that muscle has atrophied and sits lifeless upon your frame, perhaps this is the ideal opportunity to begin giving it a workout. But for many of the faithful, Good Friday – even in these trying times – appears to be turning out to be very good indeed.

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Read more from Leesa K. Donner.

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