We work hard to stay in control of our lives. Our schedules. Our habits. Our image. Even our pain. What we call normal life can quietly become a system of self management, ways of avoiding discomfort, numbing anxiety, or keeping God at a safe distance. The weeks leading up to Easter invite us to try something different. Not more effort. Not better behavior. But less control. Before we rush to the empty tomb, we want to slow down and walk with Jesus through the hard and sacrificial parts of the story. This is not about rules or rituals. It is about creating space. When we stop filling every corner of our lives, we often discover that God has been ready to meet us there all along. God specializes in redeeming what feels lifeless and broken. He brings beauty from ashes, healing from hurt, and hope from places we thought were too far gone. And in the process, He makes us new.