00:05The Garden
00:06When Jesus is overwhelmed with sorrow, he pushes into prayer.
00:11My Father, he begins, anchoring himself firmly in God's compassion at a time when suffering
00:18could easily have caused him to doubt God's love.
00:21May this cup be taken from me, he prays, admitting his fear of death and his deep,
00:27human desire to be spared suffering.
00:30And then he concludes with some of the most powerful words ever prayed.
00:34Yet not as I will, but as you will.
00:37Abba Father, you know that I would give almost anything for an easier, less painful life.
00:43Help me to relinquish my will to your will today.
00:47Abba Father, so many parts of the world are overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death
00:52today.
00:53As I remember particular people and places before you now, I pray that they will somehow
00:59know your presence with them in their suffering today.
01:02In his hour of need, Jesus' closest friends let him down repeatedly.
01:07I find this strangely reassuring, because I let him down too.
01:12Their negligence and Jesus' perseverance in prayer in this story reminds me that while
01:17my friends and even my family may fail me, there is, as the book of Proverbs says, a friend who
01:24sticks closer than a brother.
01:25Abba Father, if it is possible, please spare me suffering.
01:30I want you to bless me, heal me, show me your favor.
01:33But I realize that you never promised me an easy life.
01:37And so I pray today, as sincerely as I know how, let your will be done even if it's not
01:44my will.
01:45Let your kingdom come, even if it means sacrificing my own comfort and losing control of my life.
01:51Amen.
