The phrase good Friday has been on my mind for weeks. Yes, Good Friday is a holiday we celebrate every year, just before Easter. But what exactly are we celebrating? The death of Jesus Christ. And we call it “good”(!).

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Let’s take a glance back at that historic day.

• Jesus was betrayed by Judas and abandoned by the other disciples following the Last Supper.
• He was falsely accused by an entire court.
• He was falsely convicted on blasphemy charges.
• He was disowned by Peter.
• He was handed over to Pontius Pilate for punishment.
• He was mocked as soldiers thrust a crown of thorns upon His head.
• He was beaten beyond recognition and then crucified.
• So, He was betrayed, beaten, and crucified …
• and the paradox is that we call it good.

I wonder: If we had been there watching that day, would we have called it good? Would Mary the mother of Jesus have called it good? How about His disciples — did they see it as good?

Obviously not, since they forsook Him and ran and hid.

The Bible tells us they felt despair. Much as many of us feel today.

We have watched our nation get ravished politically. We have witnessed the spread of hatred and murder across our land. We have seen the cost of living and the prices of goods rise dramatically, and we’ve even faced empty shelves in the grocery stores. We have lost loved ones. We have endured pandemics and government mandates. We have seen anxiety and stress levels increase to an all-time high. We have felt disappointment and despair. And many of us have grown silent, not even knowing how to pray or what to say.

Now we are going into a horrendously contentious set of elections, and our nation is bitterly divided as never before.

Then, I remember Good Friday. No, it didn’t appear good that day. It appeared to be the opposite of good, as if all hope had been lost. Could this be just such a season for us? Yes, it is. This is a time that doesn’t appear good, and yet God will turn it around for our good.

I’m reminded of Genesis 50:20 and all that Joseph went through. In the end, he said: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

I don’t know about you, but I have great hope for our nation. If a Friday like the one on which Jesus died can be called good, then this season we’re now going through can also be called good.

God can and will bring good out of this season. He promises to. He will turn everything that is meant for evil around for our good. We need only to trust in Him and His unchanging Word.

As you celebrate Good Friday this season, remember: On that Friday so very long ago, things didn’t seem so good. But our God has a way of turning things around, and He can do it in just a few days or even a few moments. Everything is subject to change.

Good Friday could also be referred to as God Friday. I’m expecting another God Day for our nation; I don’t know when or how, but this I do know: God is good. And we will see His goodness in the land of the living.

What are you expecting for this Good Friday? Share your thoughts and prayers to encourage others!

Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, in Charisma Magazine, and on Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the hearts of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, to impart hope. Her daily inspirational writings are available at ANewThingMinistries.com. Photo Credit: RomoloTavani/Getty Images via Canva Pro.