Sooner or later all of us will experience pain. There are several different kinds of pain – physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual pain. It seems that pain has been a part of God’s plan for mankind, ever since the fall. Our Lord experienced pain before going to the cross. He was in the Garden of Gethsemane and Mark 14:36 we hear Him praying, “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.”
Sometimes God allows us to have a Gethsemane experience for the good of others. Christ was suffering for the salvation of the entire world. It helps us if we can look beyond the pain and ask the Lord, “How do you want to use this pain for me or even others?” In Hebrews 12:1-2 we read, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
I believe Jesus was able to endure the pain because He saw two things: 1) He would be seated in a place of honor beside the Father, and 2) He saw how many would be saved and be in heaven with Him because of the sacrifice He would make.
Dear one, your pain is not going to last forever. How will your life be personally enriched as you press through the pain? How might others be helped by your endurance?
Something else that I see in our Lord’s Gethsemane experience – HE ASKED THE FATHER FOR HELP. We can do the same, and He will help us. In Philippians 2:8-9 we read, that He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names….
Folks, Jesus was highly exalted because He submitted to God’s will. Who knows what kind of promotion you and I might experience if instead of whining and complaining we simply pray, “Father, Your will be done. Help me finish the race well.”
In Psalm 71:20 we read, You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but You will restore me to life again and lift me from the depths of the earth. What confidence and assurance the writer had. We can have that same confidence and assurance as we trust in Christ. As I mentioned earlier, Jesus had an eternal perspective. He looked beyond His circumstances because He knew He would have a greater joy when He returned to the Father’s house.
Our prayer should be like that of the writer of Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions. ”
If you and I truly trust God’s word and depend on the Holy Spirit to illuminate our minds, things will begin to change. We will experience a revival in our souls, work, home, relationships, marriage, and so much more. Thinking like Jesus is the healthiest, happiest, and most healing way to live.
Blessings,
Pastor Leonard
