Recently in the years long health battle I’ve been in, I was crying out to God (literally on my knees sobbing) that I didn’t see this ever ending. That I just want to feel better, sleep without having to work so hard at it, and be able to live life like everyone else. And begged Him to take this from me. When I finished there was nothing. I felt the exact same, although the tears helped me release some emotion, but now I was even more emotionally spent.

Then I remembered Jesus praying in the garden at the Mount of Olives. I got out my Bible and read Luke 22:39-45 and something struck me more than ever before. Jesus begged God on His knees to take this cup away, to not let Him endure torture and the crucifixion that was to come. It says “An angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him and being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Two new things jumped out at me.

Jesus, part of the Trinity, who had the power to heal, was perfect in every way, was begging His father not have to endure what was to come. He was so distraught that He was bleeding.

Here’s what I realized after some research. He was most distraught over the separation from God that was to come. He knew God cannot tolerate that sin He was going to take upon Himself and that God would turn away and would have to die separated from God His Father and endure that darkness. Yet Jesus, in all His agony, knowing how painful all of it would be, including the separation from God, said, “Not my will but Yours be done.”

He loved us so much He accepted God’s plan to use Him to save the world from the horrible, excruciating experience He was about to endure –  which was separation from God. Only He knew our separation from God would be for all eternity if He did not die for us.

Wow. Sit with that for a minute.

The other thing that stood out is that as He prayed for God to take this cup away and yet not His will but God’s…an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. God didn’t take away the agony, pain or the circumstances, but He did send reinforcements to strengthen Jesus.

He didn’t leave Jesus to just suffer, He provided what He could knowing that Jesus had to endure the cross for the world’s salvation.

He does the same for us.

He doesn’t always take away our suffering…the cancer, illness, heartache, loss, grief…but He does provide us strength and power to endure it.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

Let us run the race, my friends….

Challenge

• List one thing you wish God would take away. What if He doesn’t? Pray and ask Him for strength and provision either way.
• Cover it with TRUTH (write this on an index card and post it where you can recite it often):
• “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
• Find and list one thing that shows God’s goodness today or this week.
• Prayer

Our most Gracious Heavenly Father,
This life is hard and sometimes unbearable. The only true hope we have is found in You and Your salvation. Thank You, Jesus, for remembering the joy set before You as You endured the most horrible darkness so that I do not have to. Nothing I ever do could repay You, and that is why I am so grateful for Your free gift of salvation. Right now, I am dealing with, (list your thing you wish God would take away) and I need You to strengthen me and give me the grace and provision to keep going in this race. To keep an eternal perspective and for You to take it from me, but if You choose not to, may your will be done for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

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