Sorrowful to Surrender

It's Easter and i was pondering on Jesus's days before crucifixion and after resurrection, the journey from his time in Gethsemane to Galilee was something, a lot happened in those few days before his death to days after resurrection. What is our response in times of difficulty, grief, pain and suffering?  One important lesson from this study is that God meets us in our difficult seasons. 

Let's start with Jesus' experience, Jesus in a state of grief before his death, he knew what was to come and he was overwhelmed with so much sorrow. Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭ “And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” Imagine the soul being sorrowful even unto death, imagine the state of mind he was in? What was his response? He prayed! Not once, not twice but he went back 3 times praying until he returned fully surrendered to God’s will. Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭45‬-‭46 “Then He came to His disciples and said to them, ‬are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

There was an exchange during prayers, a sorrowful soul became a surrendered soul and He went with courage carrying His cross. Matthew 26:39 "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Never stop praying, Jesus had to go back to prayers three times before the exchange happened. Sometimes it might take more than three times but keep going back to prayers until the exchange happens, until the deliverance comes, until the healing is perfected, until fear gives way to faith, until confusion yields to clarity, until our will aligns with God’s will. Go a little farther if needed, Matthew 26:39a "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed", this reminds us that there are moments when we must press beyond what is comfortable, beyond routine, into deeper surrender, with God meeting us right there.

Luke 24 outlines encounters and how God met with each group in the midst of their grief, pain and confusion: the women that went to the tomb with prepared spice for his body and a grieving heart, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women left with an encourage and enlightened heart to share what they had experienced with the other disciples. The two men on the way to Emmaus and eventually his disciples, God met with them all. Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭“So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them” In their confusion, Jesus drew near. In their sorrow, He walked with them and there was an exchange with each encounter. 

Are you carrying a cross or searching an empty tomb‭‭ this season? Are you overwhelmed, grieving or confused? Our response, is not to withdraw, numb, or lose hope, but to draw near to God, just as He draws near to us James 4:8 until an exchange happens, until something shifts within us, trusting that He walks with us even when we do not recognize Him immediately.

Yours in the walk.