This week I found my writing meandering.  Then the words stopped.  I spent this week dreading each day ahead of me imagining what would happen tomorrow.  What are they going to say?  What if I said this?  I could not stop my mind from playing out scenarios.

By Friday morning I needed help.  Giving up I went to the Father and asked for guidance.  Turning to my devotions, He showed me how limitations are normal and Jesus felt them too.

Taking out a favorite devotional I found a passage where God promises to provide for us, even those with “weak knees and hearts that faint.”  This made me smile, because I do have weak knees from injuries, and I’ve fought fear most of my life.

The devotion went on to describe how Jesus had to submit to human limitations.  He came as a human being.  Just like us from infancy to adulthood.  Just like Jesus, we have no boundaries in the Spirit, but our physical bodies must submit to our world’s limitations.

I still did not know what it meant for me that day so I continued to trust God for guidance.  Next, I found a passage encouraging me to live “one day at a time” and leave behind the unhappiness of the past or the pain of imagining what might happen.

On the way to work, I prayed a Rosary.  Friday is the Sorrowful Mysteries.  I went through the prayers placing my workplace in my heart and my mind. I got to the first decade: The Agony in the Garden.  It clicked.  All the little pieces fell into place.  We have limitations in the physical world.  He did too.  We think about the past, the future, and what we know we have to face.  So did Jesus.  Jesus cried out to the Father for relief, choices, and guidance.  We enter the garden as He approaches his Father with His first request that night:

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me. ³⁹ He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus knew what was coming with the dawn. He knew what he was required to endure.  Like any human facing a horrendous task, He asks if he can avoid it.  In His last conversation with His Father before He faces God and Mans’ judgements.  He spends the night talking to His Father as a Son.  Is there another way?  Is there an alternative?

⁴⁰ When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  ⁴² Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!”

The second time He goes to His Father; Jesus affirms He will do His Father’s will.  We want to avoid the pain.  Jesus was strong enough to accept the Father’s will for us over the pain He knew what would be coming.

⁴³ Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴ He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.  [The scripture is from Matthew 26:36-46 NABRE]

In Jesus’ third prayer, I see the blackest part of the night just before the dawn.  Here it says He reaffirms His decision to save us from sin and death.  “… your will be done!”  The decision has been made.  Jesus has placed the will of the Father above the will to survive.  Knowing that they will persecute him and he will die as if He committed every offense.  For those who believe, Jesus’ decision means the sins of everyone was placed on him as the sacrifice so we can choose to live with God’s Light in our lives for eternity.

Just like Jesus, we can bring our concerns, both big and small, to the Father.  Whether God gives us a no, a yes, relief, a choice, or guidance, we need to remember how Jesus ended each prayer that long night before the dawn; “… your will be done!”

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. [Philippians 4:13 NKJV]

No matter what; God will give us the strength we need for the day.  Jesus understands the limitations we deal with in the physical world along with the hurt and pain.  His plans are not our plans (see Isaiah 55:8).  I want to be a part of His Plan.  Even when I don’t understand it! {wink}

God Bless,

Milly