Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

The Black Moment by Merrillee Whren

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Although I wrote this a few days ahead of when you will actually read it, this will post on Saturday, the day before Easter. As part of our stories’ plots, we writers have what we call the “black moment.” This is the place in the story when everything the protagonist has been working for is lost. It’s the point where the romance reader asks, “How will they ever get back together after this has happened?” The reader wants to know “How will this ever work out?”

I imagine that the disciples of Jesus were asking a similar question on that Saturday before the resurrection. They probably went about their Sabbath routines with broken hearts and a sense of foreboding after witnessing what is recorded in Luke 23: 44-46. It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

As Christians, we can praise God that He had a plan, and the black moment was overcome in the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. An empty cross, an empty tomb, and Jesus’s numerous visits to his disciples made for the best happy ending in history.

I will be giving away two books, the first book in my Village of Hope series, SECOND CHANCE REUNION, and the second book in my Front Porch Promises series, A LOVE TO CALL MINE. I will draw the winning name from those who leave comments on April 17, 2017 at 9PM MST.

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Merrillee Whren (95 Posts)

Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.


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Comments

  1. This black moment makes an interesting comparison between what usually happens in the romance novels and the Saturday before the Ressurrection. Today we have the knowledge of what happens next but it must have seem something impossible to overcome to the disciples.

  2. I think about the incredible grief all of those who loved Jesus must have felt. A friend of mine just lost her adult daughter and I attended the funeral. The grief was thick to point it had of life of it’s own. I had really never thought until today’s post about how the disciples must have been feeling on this day. I have always focused on his resurrection. The other thought I had as I read this that I haven’t had before was how much Jesus knows us. He didn’t come just once but many times to imprint on the disciples He really had arose. Had He come just once they would have questioned later had they really seen him. Words cannot express how grateful I am He knows me (us) so well so that we can have hope of a glorious future with Him.

  4. So thankful that Sunday came and the confusion, dismay, and fear of Saturday passed away!!

  6. Focusing on the pain and grief of history’s “black moment” is so appropriate today. Thank you for the reminder, Merrillee. I know I left yesterday’s Good Friday service at my church with a deeper sympathy for the disciples and their grief. They didn’t know Sunday was coming.

  7. You don’t have to enter me in the book giveaway as I have them already, Merrillee, but I wanted to say thanks for your post! Always a great reminder during this Easter season! I love the “black moment” in every book because it’s important to remember that love is worth the effort and we all need to overcome obstacles to be with the one we love for a lifetime! There will be bumps along the way and we need to know that we can weather the storms of life and that person will stay with us and not jump ship at the first sign of trouble!

  9. Love your comparison and very much appropriate for this time in our lives, the death and resurrection of Christ for our sin. Happy Easter

  15. A very good analogy. Thank the Lord, He loved us enough to die for our sin. Have a wonderful Resurrection day.

  16. Happy Easter! Sunday’s a coming, even though it is black for a time. The disciples didn’t know that, but praise God, we have that hope!

  17. This “black moment” is a time of remembrance for me, I remember that the light is coming. It reminds me all year long that despite the darkness, there is always light. Easter is the ultimate darkness and the ultimate light. The darkness of sin paid for that brings light to all.

  18. Really interesting your comparison. Saturday (or “sadder day”, as I’ve heard in a kids story about Easter) must have been a really black day for those witnessing Jesus death. I’m glad we know now we have the Sunday and that is the reason for our hope and joy. Christ is Risen!

  19. I’m always amazed that Jesus willingly went to the cross knowing what will happen but having such great love for us! Wow!

    No need to enter me as I’ve already read these stories. Happy Resurrection Sunday Merrillee!

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