Daily Devotions- God’s Distress

Daily Devotions- God’s Distress

 

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

Matthew 26:36-39 (NIV)

Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

The night before Jesus goes to the cross he is overwhelmed by sadness and depression. He feels the weight of the world upon his shoulders, crushing him… literally! While no one else has ever died for the sins of the world, anyone who has suffered from depression might be able to understand what Jesus was going through that night. Emotional pain is real and the Father does not remove it from Jesus in the moment. Jesus must walk through that dark time trusting that His Father does and always will love Him; that the pain he is feeling is not the end. We have a savior who knows us intimately. He has walked in our shoes. He knows our sorrows and pain. Yet, Jesus shows us that He can and will endure that pain for us and with us. We are not alone and never will be. He will accomplish the will of the Father to bring us peace!