Read Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22: 39-46
COVID-19 has put a new face on struggling, and it’s not just in the masks that people are wearing for protection. For the first time in many of our lives, we are separated from loved ones, and we are fearful of contracting a deadly virus. We are impacted physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. We get up every morning to face another day of struggles in one way or another.
Matthew indicated that Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, faced a struggle much greater than any of us can comprehend. The Gospel writer recorded that Jesus, knowing that He came to the earth for the purpose of bearing the sins of all mankind and that the day was drawing near for Him to do so, became “sorrowful and troubled.” Jesus admitted his great distress to the disciples who had accompanied Him to this quiet place when He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Luke noted that Jesus struggled to the degree of praying so intensely that His own sweat fell from His body like “great drops of blood.” Luke described Jesus as “being in anguish” as He pleaded with His Father to remove this struggle from Him.
In facing this struggle, Jesus set the example for us as we face struggles every day. How did He do it?
- He went away to a quiet place. He needed to be alone with God. He needed to approach Him with His request because God was the only One Who could change what Jesus was facing.
- He took some friends with Him and asked them to pray as well. There is strength in numbers when it comes to prayer. Jesus was depending on His “inner three.”
- He cried out to His Father with His request. He did this not once but three times. As He prayed, an angel strengthened Him. Jesus persisted in presenting His request to His Father.
- He submitted to His Father’s will. Each of the three times Jesus prayed to His Father to remove from Him what He was facing, He concluded with, “May Your will be done.”
- Jesus overcame the struggle by facing it head on. God did not answer the way Jesus in the flesh wanted. As He rose from prayer the third time, His betrayer advanced. God’s will was about to be done. Jesus submitted to it, strengthened by His time in prayer.
You, too, can face your struggles through prayer. Find a quiet place, present your requests to God, invite your friends to pray with you, persist in your prayers, submit to the will of the Father, and then accept His will in your life. God will strengthen you.
Father, we admit that we are struggling as we daily face COVID-19 and its impact on our lives. Please strengthen us for each struggle we face. We know where to find Your strength. Help us to be devoted to prayer more than ever as we trust in You for help. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.