36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”
39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
(Matthew 26:36-39, WEBBE)
Reflection
When was the last time you felt such a deep sorrow you felt your heart would almost break into pieces? When was the last time you felt you could hardly contain your tears?
What makes our sadness even worse is the feeling that we are alone. Just like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, you may have asked some people to watch with you, to just stay where you are. But maybe none of them came, none were able to bear the deepest griefs welling up from within your heart.
As we meditate upon the suffering of Jesus in the Garden, let us remember that He understands where we’re coming from. He knows what it’s like to feel real pain. He knows what it’s like to be left alone by the people you have counted upon most.
Would you decide to stay with Jesus even for a while? Could you spend a moment today in prayer, joining your heart to the One who knows your pain?
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"