Quiet Time Series: The Stone Has Been Rolled Away

Letting Go of What-Ifs, Should-Haves, and the Weight of “Falling Behind”

The Silent Weight No One Sees

There’s a kind of heaviness that doesn’t show on the outside.
You smile. You show up. You keep going.
But inside, there’s a silent ache. A feeling that maybe you should be further along by now.

For me, that weight shows up in quiet moments—behind the audio-visual table at church while everyone else is mingling… or alone in a restaurant, surrounded by families and couples, wondering if I’m out of place.

It whispers:
“You’re behind.”
“You should’ve been married by now.”
“You should’ve owned a house.”
“You should’ve invested earlier. Stayed in the military. Said yes to that relationship.”

That list goes on.

But this Easter, I find myself reflecting on something deeper than regret. A story that still rolls away stones we thought were permanent.

The Weight We Carry in Silence

The women who went to Jesus’ tomb weren’t expecting resurrection.
They were carrying spices for burial—not hope.
They were prepared to manage loss, not witness new life.

And I relate to that more than I want to admit.

Sometimes, I show up carrying what feels like emotional “spices”—ways I try to preserve what didn’t work out.
A relationship that didn’t bloom. A career path I turned away from. A version of my life that didn’t unfold the way I imagined.

And the question echoes through my spirit:

“Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” – Mark 16:3

That’s the question they asked.
That’s the question I ask, too.

And then… God does what only He can.
He rolls it away.

Not because they had it figured out.
Not because they made perfect decisions.
But because resurrection doesn’t wait for us to be ready—it meets us in the middle of our ache.

What If You Didn’t Miss It?

Sometimes I wonder: What if I had stayed in Hawaii?
What if I had pushed through and studied film?
What if I had just endured that relationship a little longer—would things have turned out differently?

The “should-haves” line up like a choir, singing songs of regret.
But the more I listen, the more I realize—they don’t offer peace. Just pressure.

“Regret is insight that comes a day too late.” – William Faulkner

But what if the “wrong path” didn’t disqualify me?
What if the detours didn’t mean delay—but divine redirection?

Jesus doesn’t speak with the voice of regret.
He doesn’t say, “You should’ve known better.”
He says, “Come out. The stone is rolled away. Step forward.”

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” – Isaiah 43:18-19

So What Does Resurrection Look Like in Real Life?

It might not look like sudden breakthroughs or overnight success.
Sometimes, resurrection just looks like relief.
Like waking up and realizing: You don’t have to carry this weight anymore.
You don’t have to keep calculating what could’ve been.

Sometimes resurrection looks like this quiet truth:

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis

Soul Questions to Reflect On

What is one “stone” in your life that feels heavy right now—something you keep circling back to in your thoughts?
Where do you catch yourself comparing timelines, and how does it affect the way you show up in your daily life?
What would it feel like—emotionally, spiritually—to let that stone roll away, even just a little?

Let the answers come gently. This is not about fixing anything—it’s about noticing what’s been weighing on your heart and imagining what freedom could look like.

Final Thoughts: What Jesus Might Say to You

If I could picture Jesus standing in front of the stone I’ve been staring at—the one made of delay, doubt, and disappointment—I think He’d say:

“You haven’t missed it. You didn’t fail your timeline. You didn’t lose Me along the way. I’ve been walking with you through every what-if and should-have. The stone isn’t here to trap you. It’s here to remind you that I still make a way.”

So today, I choose to believe again.
Not just in His resurrection—but in mine, too.
Even if it’s quiet.
Even if it’s late.
Even if it starts with something as simple as hope returning to my heart.

“Just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live a new life.” – Romans 6:4

If you’re carrying a heavy stone today, I hope you’ll let this be your reminder—it’s okay to lay it down. He’s already moved it for you.

Prayer: When the Stone Feels Too Heavy

Jesus,

Sometimes I don’t even realize the weight I’m carrying until I pause—until I notice the ache of comparison, regret, or delay.

But You see it all.

You see the stones I stare at, the timelines I mourn, the questions I whisper in silence.

Thank You for rolling away the heaviness I couldn’t move on my own.

Thank You for reminding me that I’m not behind—I’m beloved.

Help me trust that You’re doing something new, even if I can’t see it yet.

Help me live as someone who’s already been raised—with You, in hope, in love, in quiet courage.

Amen.

Soul Path Insights