Lenten Word 32: Anguish

Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." 43 [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]

Facing what He knew was coming was not easy. At His disposal were the armies of Heaven and the power of God in Him, yet Jesus humbled Himself for paying the ultimate price for you and me. This short prayer gives Him away: Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me..." is enough to know the fear and anguish that Jesus is feeling at that very moment. Add to it that as He prays more, his sweat becomes like great drops of blood falling to the ground. Yes, an angel appeared and gave Him strength, but the anguish remained.

There are things in our lives or even during this Lenten Journey that have caused us great anguish, but Jesus remains the example of faithfulness to God. Notice that after He asks that the cup be removed He says, "Yet, not my will but yours be done." C. S. Lewis wrote that Hell is filled with those who said, "Not Thy will but mine," and Heaven is filled with those who said, "Not my will, but Thine." Notice the difference. To ask that our will be done just to remove our anguish is to ask to be placed in an eternal place of anguish.

PRAYER: God, not my will, but Thine. Amen.