I have read the story of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to His arrest, death, and ressurection at least 1000 times in my life.

I am 44 so there are at least 44 Easters I’ve celebrated to have heard the story plus my own Bible reading over the last 10 years…

How is it possible that I missed something??

I assume I have seen this, I have had to have heard at least one sermon on it….and yet, today, it is like seeing it for the first time.

Luke 22:43

>Jesus has been praying for the cup of suffering to be removed from Him before His submission saying “not My will, but Yours be done<

Now an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

The Amplified Bible study note says this:

God’s answer to Jesus’prayer did not allow His Son to avoid suffering. However, God did provide angelic help for Jesus to face what was coming. Sometimes, God answers prayer by eliminating trials; sometimes He answers by strengthening us in the midst of them.

Wow.

That is some deep stuff right there.

Jesus knew what His suffering was going to look like….Can you imagine that???

If you knew your situation was coming that caused you pain or is causing you pain…would you do everything to avoid it?

Or pray for strength to endure it and face it anyway?

Our example in life is Jesus Christ.

He is how God chose to reveal Himself to us so we can better relate to Him…so we could have hope that a personal relationship with Him is possible even though we are not holy…

How we live this life is by following in the footsteps of One who faced every trial we face and did not sin.

Jesus was comforted and strengthened so He could endure what was coming…

So many times all I want is OUT of my circumstance. ..

I want healing.

I want restoration.

I want a miracle.

I want relief.

I want the desires of my heart.

And I want it all NOW.

I don’t want to wait.

I don’t want to suffer or watch another suffer any longer than necessary- not one second longer, thank you very much.

I want situations resolved and wrapped pretty- all tied up with a fancy bow.

I can project myself into an assumed future and begin to fear what could happen IF….and then do all I can to make sure “IT” doesn’t.

If “IT” does… then guess what? I get to blame myself because I obviously didn’t take the right steps to avoid it- am I right?

I didn’t save that person from their addictions.

I didn’t take care of my body to fight this autoimmune disease.

I didn’t answer the phone everytime it rang so I failed someone in a crisis…

Suddenly, I am in control and at fault- all because I micromanaged an event when I could have gone a different route.. ~

I could choose to trust what Thy will be done means…

A loving God has a bigger plan that is meant for our good…AND brings INCREDIBLE good things out of things planned by the enemy of this world to harm us.

There is nothing wrong for praying for healing, relief, peace, the desires of our hearts~ the Bible instructs us to take all our cares to the Lord in prayer.

However, trusting in His will becomes key..

When we do we will be strengthened to endure whatever it is we have to face.

If we are constantly fighting against what we think God should do in a situation based on our limited view of the scenario (instead of His eternal Kingdom perspective) then we will miss who He sends to comfort us or what He chooses to use to strengthen us.

We just won’t see it or sense it.

God is the God of miracles, He does heal, He does intersect lives at key moments to bring about radical change ~ my own life has examples of all of that -as does yours too, if you look hard enough.

But, He also allows the suffering to go on as well…and desires to strengthen us through it.

His glory is revealed in both sets of circumstances.

His character is revealed through both.

Our role, especially if you desire peace, is to trust Him through it; receive His strength instead of slapping it away because you want something that you think would be better.

If Jesus required an angel to visit Him then I don’t feel so bad for feeling so needy in times of trial …Because AM I EVER!

I want strength through it so God can be given the glory in my trial and you may be encouraged because of it.

Please feel free to leave a comment or to share this Blog with others! I pray my honesty is a blessing and an encouragement to you.