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. – Luke 22: 41-44

Nobody wants to suffer.

Nobody wants to be bedridden or see a loved one bedridden.

Nobody wants to experience the agony of cancer or endure abuse and isolation.

But when we’re in our darkest moments, we should remember that long-suffering is a fruit of the Spirit and we can’t avoid it.

And even Jesus wasn’t fully prepared mentally and emotionally to endure suffering, so we shouldn’t try to mask our grief.

In fact, if Jesus could’ve had it His way, He wouldn’t have suffered through all the torture the religious teachers and elders inflicted on Him.

But He stayed the course because He knew His life’s purpose was to do God’s will, not His own.

And in His moments of despair, He knew that if He prayed, God would comfort Him and give Him strength.

Even as the sweat was dropping to the ground from His face like massive drops of blood, He was steadfast in prayer because He knew God would send His angels to comfort Him.

So no matter how full our cup of suffering becomes, we should remember what Jesus went through and follow His example, praying with everything we have.

Because although God allows us to endure pain, His love for us is endless.

He will be the comfort and strength we need in our times of suffering.

No matter what it looks like, He will never forsake us.

Be blessed,

Alexia

Prayer: God, in my times of suffering, pain, anxiety, anguish, and depression, please send your angels to kneel by my side and comfort me. If you are willing, please take my suffering away, but if not, give me the strength to endure. Help me to always lean on you when life becomes too difficult to bear. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.