He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” - Luke 22:41-46
This scripture is the deciding moment in where Jesus was willing to allow God’s will to be done even though he knew what it would involve. He knew the severity of the suffering he was about to endure, and yet he fully surrendered to God’s plan. He was given supernatural strength to withstand what was coming.
The levity of this passage has my heart so heavy this week.
I struggle with surrender. It’s a struggle I face daily.
Who am I to not fully surrender to God’s will when Jesus himself did it?
I think this idea of surrendering is a struggle for me because there is so much fear around the unknown. If there’s anything I have learned this last year is that even when your ‘greatest fears’ are realized, you can withstand it.
Fear is the enemy of Faith.
For years (and I mean YEARS), I said my greatest fear was losing Joe. I told Joe that often. I remember telling the 911 operator that when she was directing me to CPR, and the paramedics that when they told me there was nothing they could do, and countless other people – losing him was my greatest fear come to life.
Even in that confession, God continued to show me just how much He loves us and has us covered – yes, even when we lack the faith. How He surrounded us with a community who has loved on us daily. How He surrounded us with a church family who has prayed for us and insulated us when needed. How He had his hands all over our lives and were directing our paths long before we knew what was coming. How he has strategically placed new people in our paths, and rekindled relationships. He knew. How he showed me that even though I lacked faith in Him and had this monster fear, He had our family covered. He knew. He knew we’d fall short with our faith, and yet, still He covered us.
What He has shown me in the meantime. I am strong. I can do this on my own. I am so very capable of more than I give myself credit for. I am His beloved. I am more capable of surrender than I realize.
This gift He has given us. The gift of salvation. It’s not something to take lightly. It’s not a one and done confession. It’s a daily surrender of our lives to the One who has it all under control.
I would encourage you to look at the gift Jesus has given us with his life, and ask yourself, if you can honestly say you surrender to him.
When your faith intersects with God’s faithfulness, it will change your life forever. When you say yes to God, something happens. Don’t miss it. Be available for what God wants you to step into.