What if the part of your story that feels sealed shut is actually where hope begins? In Station 14 of the Cross, Jesus is placed in a tomb. A heavy stone is rolled in front, and to everyone watching, it looks like everything is over. You might think, “If it’s closed off like that, there is no way forward.” That is exactly how it felt in that moment too. Silent. Final. Unmoving. But this is where the story shifts. For those who have never heard of the Stations of the Cross, this moment is not about defeat. It is about waiting. The tomb is not a dead end. It is a space where something unseen is about to happen. This station teaches us that even when life feels buried or stuck, God is still at work. The quiet does not mean He is gone. The darkness does not mean the story has ended. It just means we are in the in-between. Because what looked like the end on Friday was only leading to something greater. Sunday is coming. "The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it." — Luke 23:55 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

This is Station 13 of the Cross. It reminds us that God is not only present in the big, dramatic moments…but also in the aftermath. In the stillness. In the heartbreak. In the spaces where words fall short. He doesn’t rush us through our pain. He sits with us in it. If you’ve ever felt alone in a quiet, heavy moment…this is your reminder: God is still there, holding space, holding you. "Joseph [of Arimathea] took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock." — Matthew 27:59-60 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

There was a moment when nails were driven in… a point of no return. But it wasn’t the nails that held Jesus there. It was love. A love so committed, He chose to stay…for you. His hands were bound so yours could be free. So what does this mean for you? It means you are not forgotten. It means your life has worth. It means freedom was chosen for you… before you ever chose Him. This is Station XI: not just suffering, but a declaration. “I’m all in for you.” “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left." — Luke 23:33 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

This is Station X: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments. And yet, He chose it… so we wouldn’t have to hide. We spend our lives wearing masks, trying to be “enough.” But God already sees the real you… and loves you completely. No pretending. No shame. No hiding. "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment." — Psalm 22:18 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

Station IX of the Cross shows us that even at His lowest, Jesus rises again. Not because the pain is gone but because love is stronger than exhaustion. And maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t have that kind of strength.” You’re right… you don’t have to. Because it’s not about your strength. It’s about His. So if you’re at your breaking point… take one more step. Because God gives “finish line” strength to those who feel like they have none left. "It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him." — Lamentations 3:27-28 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

Station VII of the Cross shows us that Jesus entered into that cycle of falling, not because He failed, but so He could meet us in ours. In our habits, our setbacks, our “not again” moments. And every time He rose, He showed us this: His grace is stronger than what pulls you down. So if you’ve fallen again… don’t stay there. Get up. Keep going. Because God hasn’t given up on you… even here. "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me." — Psalm 22:14 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

Station VI of the Cross shows us that even the smallest act of mercy carries eternal weight. What seemed simple became sacred, because love was present. When you show compassion to someone in need, you’re not just helping them… you’re meeting Jesus there. So today, don’t wait to do something big. Start with something small. Because that small act? It might mean everything to someone. "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" — Matthew 25:40 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

Mary stands there, heart shattered, and in that brief moment, their eyes meet. No words. Just love, grief, and deep understanding. It’s a reminder that even on His way to the cross, Jesus didn’t overlook the people closest to Him. For those new to the Stations of the Cross, this moment helps us see: God is not distant. He cares about families. He sees the tears of parents, the pain of children, and the silent struggles we don’t always speak out loud. Even when everything feels like it’s falling apart, He notices you. 📖 “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother…” — John 19:25 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz

We all carry our own crosses… burdens that feel too heavy. But Jesus shows us that these hard places aren’t empty. They can become the very ground where faith grows, where healing begins, where God does His deepest work. Maybe what feels heavy right now… is leading you somewhere powerful. 📖 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” — Luke 9:23 | SANCTUARY SOCIALS ▶ Visit our WEBSITE: https://yoursanctuary.nz ▶ Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yoursanctuary.nz/ ▶ Join our FACEBOOK Page: https://www.facebook.com/yoursanctuary.nz