Rise Again is a redemptive Easter poem. It tells the story of Joe, a man who walks through grief, addiction, and spiritual despair—until he discovers the healing grace of God.
Joe isn’t a stand-in for Christ. His pain reflects what so many of us carry. But Christ, who bore our suffering, still meets us in the depths of it.
This story-poem explores the power of redemption, the quiet mercy of second chances, and the gentle call to rise again. If you’ve ever felt lost, far from God, or burdened by your past—I wrote this for you.
Through lyrical storytelling and raw emotion, Rise Again speaks to the heart of Easter—not perfection, but resurrection. Not the absence of wounds, but the promise of healing.
Rise Again
Once, in simpler, brighter days,
Joe’s world felt safe and sound.
But life can shift without a sign,
And knock us to the ground.
A thief slipped in beneath the dark,
And shattered Joe’s deep trust.
His faith gave way like brittle stone,
That crumbled into dust.
“Why, O Lord?” he’d often ask,
But silence met his prayer.
His strength grew thin, his gaze grew dim,
Beneath the weight of care.
Adrift and lost, alone at sea,
He strayed too far from shore,
Then cried to God he couldn’t see,
“There must be something more.”
Joe chased escape in smoke and drink,
A numbing, endless haze.
He poured his pain in glass and flame,
Trapped in addiction’s maze.
He tried to rise from where he lay,
Engulfed in guilt and shame.
But memories met him on the way,
Like shadows none could tame.
He wandered through a church he knew,
As hymns stirred something deep.
It warmed a place within his heart,
Where peace was sound asleep.
But shame still whispered, sharp and deep,
And pride refused to bend.
He faced the world behind a mask,
Afraid of who he’d been.
“Did You forsake me?” he wept to God
Still hanging on the ache.
Each grasp he made for hope again,
Felt hollow, dim, and fake.
One night, alone and near the edge,
He fell in silent dread.
With shaking hands and burning eyes,
“Please help me, Lord,” he said.
Then came a hush, like healing rain,
That washed his wounds away.
A voice declared, “Rise up my child,
A new life starts today.”
A gentle calm began to bloom,
Where chaos grew before.
It covered grief and disbelief,
Hope knocked upon Joe’s door.
The tomb he bore no longer held,
As mercy led him on.
The weight of sorrow rolled away,
Toward hope and breaking dawn.
No longer chained by fear or doubt,
His spirit learned to rise.
He found new strength he never knew,
With courage in his eyes.
Now Joe, once broken, became a light,
To guide the ones who roam.
A joyful face restored by grace,
To lead the weary home.
So if you’re lost and feeling low,
God meets you where you’ve been.
Just trust the One who conquered death,
And love will rise again.
— David Ritter
💬 If this poem touched your heart, explore more uplifting poetry and reflections on faith by David Ritter.
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