Becoming Who We Are for the Church
What’s your Garden of Gethsemane? What is the trial you are about to undergo? What cross are you agonizing over? What are you awaiting or enduring to get to your resurrection? What aspect of God’s will are you yearning for Him to take from you?
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew 26:36-39
Jesus knew that He must suffer for our sins, but He didn’t want to suffer. He was in so much pain that He trembled and sweat drops of blood from the agony.
We all face our Garden of Gethsemane at one time or another, like Jesus. It’s a place of intense prayer, grief, and distress when you know something needs to happen and must obey, yet you are apprehensive about the Lord’s will – no matter what may be on the other side. It might be a terminally sick family member, a difficult life change, or a significant loss.
We long for God to remove the burden, yet it is what ultimately brings resurrection, that is, joy and/or new life. Like Jesus, in the Garden, we can grieve, suffer, and pour our hearts out to God, but ultimately we must obey whatever He asks of us. We must go through Calvary.
If you are in the Garden, know that Jesus is right there with you helping to carry the cross that leads to resurrection. Trust the cross, no matter how painful it may be. Trust that despite the pain, the Lord works all things for the good of those He loves.