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Please Take This Cup
Of Suffering Away From Me.
Yet I Want Your Will To Be Done, Not Mine.
Scripture
36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Observation
As
I write this blog my thoughts go out to many of the people I know who are going
through difficult times, terrible pain and suffering.
I
have asked myself and I have asked my God on several occasions, “Why?” Maybe
you have done the same thing yourself in the middle of your situation.
Jesus
understands just how we feel. On that night in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus
in His human flesh wanted His Father to spare Him all of the suffering that was
soon going to happen to Him. He reminded His Heavenly Father “everything was
possible for Him.”
On
this side of Heaven you and I are never going to understand why God allows
suffering, or why He allows bad things to happen to us, but I have learned
this; suffering and going through hard times allow us to have a relationship
with our Heavenly Father that others who have not suffered in the same way
could ever experience.
My
very good friend, missionary John Seale wrote me a note of encouragement during
a difficult time after my heart attack and I have never forgotten his words. I
have them on my refrigerator as a constant reminder. John has gone through
chemo and radiation treatment for throat cancer.
Everyday life is a challenge
for he and his wife Jeanie, but they have never stopped being a part of the
mission work on the island of Cuba. John has been able to organize and take teams
to the island even with all of his health issues.
But
here is what he wrote me and I think it goes along with this passage about
Christ’s prayer to His Heavenly Father in the Garden of Gethsemane and maybe it
will encourage you today like it still encourages me.
John
wrote, “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ
but also the privilege of suffering for Him. (Philippians 1:29) Such
difficulties bring many of us to a depth of spiritual oneness and fellowship
with our Maker that most believers would not understand.” John Seale
Application
May
God’s will be done in my life today. How about yours?
Prayer
So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
I pray for those who are going through times of suffering right now. Give them strength. Draw them to a closer relationship with You through these difficult times. Be glorified in and through each one of Your servants. May they bring You glory and honor in the midst of their pain.
Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 5,6; Psalms 43; Mark 14
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