“He pulled away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?” At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.”
Luke 22:41-44  The Message (MSG)

Jesus was distraught. In the Garden at Gethsemane, Jesus, our Lord and Savior, exhibited his humanity and got overwhelmed with His situation and wanted to give up.  When we read the scripture verse above,  this moment of human frailty happened between the words ‘me’ and ‘But.’   What happened in Jesus’ mind and heart between ‘me’ and ‘But?’

 ————————————————-

 

I get distraught. Sometimes I get very distraught. I call these times my “Gethsemane moments.” They happen when my life is filled with chaos. Situations get the best of me and I become worried, desperate. These times usually happen when I haven’t spent enough time listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit within me.  I begin making decisions on my own and planning out the details with my own strength.  Then all of the things I try to do backfire, go south, straight out fail.  And I am alone with my mess…distraught.

 ————————————————-

What did Jesus do in that moment in Gethsemane when he got distraught?  He knew what was in front of him, and he didn’t want to do it.  How many times have we been there…in the place where we just don’t want to do it? How many times have we asked God to ‘take this cup’ from us?

Jesus asked.  Then Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to remind Him of His purpose, submitted to drinking His ‘cup.’  That cup of suffering he was sent to earth to drink because His Father, Our Father wanted Him to.  So Jesus’ response to His own request to have the cup pass by Him was…

‘But…’
That’s what Jesus said next…after he submitted:

‘But…’

But…means However, Nevertheless, On the Other Hand, Looking Beyond, Changing Position, Receiving New Orders.

 

Jesus allowed His Holy Spirit to calm Him. In between the “me.  But…” of that verse, the Holy Spirit reminded Jesus of God’s Perfect Will for Him.  Paul states God’s Will for Jesus, His Son this way:

“…He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2  Living Bible (TLB)

Like Jesus, in that one moment, we too can feel like our cups are too difficult for us to drink.  We get confused about what the plan really is and what our next steps should be.  And like Jesus, we must begin to honestly ask for the Father’s help.  Not just to console us in our fears, but to give us the strength to do His Will for our lives.

God never gives us anything we cannot handle…the cup in our hands is the one we must drink from.  BUT…God also gives us His Presence, Support and Love in abundant portion to whatever cup we hold.  His intentions for us are always for our good…no matter what our situation looks like to us.

In Gethsemane, Jesus asked for God to remove the cup He had to partake of…if it was possible.  BUT in the same moment, He remembered that His Father’s Will for Him would always be for His good and He submitted Himself to that which His Father commanded.  It is a lesson for us to follow.

Whatever lies ahead of us, whatever we may be facing today, God’s Will for us is better than any plan we may contemplate.  When we are in moments of weakness, He is there to hold us fast and keep us steady.  On the other side of the suffering Jesus endured was His place at the right hand of the Almighty Father…and our salvation.

Never underestimate the manifestation of abundant blessing in the power of submission to God.  Whatever our cup…HE is our portion.

Be encouraged by Psalm 73:26;

“My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.” (New International Version)

Until next post,
Blessings…vw1