Sorrow Gate

Matthew 26: ³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

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Deeply troubled about many things, I could not rest. I woke up in the middle of the night with my mind racing over all the things that were going on. Maybe if I work, then I can get my mind off of stuff. I could not work because of all the thoughts.

• Sometimes I get worried.
• Sometimes I get troubled.
• Sometimes I am so full of sorrow, I cannot even think.

As JESUS approached HIS death HE was sorrowful and troubled. Only HE and the FATHER knew what it meant to be blamed for every sin of mankind and JESUS was going to do just that. HE faced deep sorrow but did something amazing.

• JESUS showed me how to pray in the middle of my sorrow.
• JESUS showed me how to ask for the FATHER’s will and not mine.
• JESUS showed me how to bring friends along to watch over me in my sorrow so I won’t stay there.

Deity wrapped in humanity was JESUS’s makeup. HE knew HIS plight and HIS humanity felt sorrow. It’s alright to feel this way but not stay that way. GOD wants me to open a gate to HIM and pray. HE wants to take my sorrow, guilt and shame. All I have to do is pray.

• Are you full of sorrow?
• Are you troubled?
• Will you pray to the FATHER about your troubles so HE can give you peace?  

In loving memory of cousin Curtis.

Eye of the Storm

Matthew 26: ¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

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After a very long day of intense political meetings I came home on edge. I mean how dare this group accuse my group of what they were saying! When I sat down on the couch, my kids came over to play with me. I had to put aside my brooding so I could focus on those around me.

• Sometimes I have a lot on my mind.
• Sometimes life dishes out blows that cause me to replay in my mind over and over what’s wrong.
• Sometimes the storm of life brings worries.

Hurricanes have turbulent sides but in the middle there is a calm area where everything seems fine, this is known as the “eye of the storm.” JESUS was in the eye of the storm. HE had been tempted, lied on and slandered on one side of the storm. HE would face beatings, mockery and death on the other side of the storm, but in the middle HE does something amazing.

• JESUS calmly says to me “Relax and I will sup with you.”
• JESUS calmly says to me “It may seem turbulent but there is peace in ME.”
• JESUS calmly says to me “I see what you are going through and I want to give you peace.”

In the middle of the storm, JESUS sends HIS disciples out to prepare for a nice calm dinner. HE said “MY appointed time is near” so calmly that the disciples missed the meaning. JESUS knew HE would be murdered and blamed for all of my sins, yet HE was calm. I am thankful for the eye of the storm.

• Are you in the middle of a storm?
• Are you highly disturbed?
• Can you do what JESUS did and calm down enough so you can calm others down?

In memory of those affected by Hurricane Harvey

Giving Up

Proverbs 24:

Saying 25

¹⁰ If you falter in a time of trouble,
    how small is your strength!
¹¹ Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
¹² If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

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“This was the final straw” I said to myself. Tired of the nonsense that was happening around me, I decided that I had enough. I gave up on helping because I was making no headway at all. In fact it seemed quite the opposite.

• Sometimes it seems like difficulties can throw me off.
• There are times when trouble can feel overwhelming to me.
• Sometimes I just feel like giving up when I am making no headway.

Quarrels and blame were the mode of operation and I truly got tired of being the self-appointed mediator. I said “What good is my help and it certainly doesn’t seem like GOD cares.” How incredibly wrong I was.

• GOD said “I will be with you always” this means HE stays during times of trouble.
• GOD said “Trouble you will have but I send a COMFORTER to you” meaning HE knows I will got through things so HE gave me protection.
• GOD said “Have the faith of a mustard seed” meaning I must believe in HIM even if it is the tiniest belief.

Giving up is quite easy to do, BUT GOD says to me “stay in there and complete your work I have given to you.” HE wants me to continue what I’ve started and never give up.

• Are you in trouble?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Can you look back on how GOD has rescued you in the past?
• Will you allow HIM to take you “through” the trouble instead of around it?

Getting Through Agony

Psalm 6: ¹ Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.
² Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
    heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
³ My soul is in deep anguish.
    How long, Lord, how long?

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A tear rolled down my cheek as I chewed in agony. Something was wrong with a tooth and I was in wrenching pain. I tried over the counter medicines and they seemed to work for a while, but now they had no effect. I called around to find dentists who were available but for some reason every appointment was filled with emergencies. Finally I found a doctor who would see me in three days. Three days??!! How will I last?

• Sometimes I see my pain as an emergency.
• Sometimes I see my anguish as the most important thing going on right now.
• Sometimes I see my agony as the pinnacle of things that needs to be solved right now!

“How long, Lord, how long?” David asks and when I am in pain I ask the same question. I mean my problem is the most important thing going on in the world isn’t it?

• GOD says to me “Bring your cares to ME.”
• GOD says to me “Cast your troubles at MY feet.”
• GOD says to me “I will provide you strength to do all things.”

Pain, anguish and agony are easy things for GOD to handle. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness are definitely HIS concern for me. HE wants the best for me and understands life’s troubles. I thought I could not survive the painful toothache and years later I almost forgot the incident. HE takes me though many situations and I am stronger only because of HIS strength.

• Are you going through pain?
• Are you exhausted from asking “how long?”
• Will you give your time expectation over to GOD knowing HE will clear up the issue HIS way and in HIS time?
• Can you understand that HIS love for you is deeper than any problem you can face?