"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.' ... Going a little further, 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.'" – Matthew 26: 36 & 39
The disciples just didn't get it. It didn't make any sense. In spite of the three times Jesus predicted His upcoming death and resurrection, all the disciples heard was death.
Jesus was going to be killed—and this grieved them greatly. Rising from the dead just didn't sink in. But what the disciples didn't understand, Jesus did. At this time, crucifixion was commonplace. Jesus knew what He would face – and at Gethsemane, He was terrified. The Bible says that in the moments leading up to His arrest, Jesus' anxiety and fear were so great that His sweat was like drops of blood. Jesus even asked His Father to remove this mountain – yet, "not my will but yours," He prayed.
This is the greatest example of faith and prayer in history.
God gave Jesus extraordinary power to move ahead in faith and endure the cross. We see from the life of Christ that sometimes the mountains we face don't move. Instead, we're given the supernatural power and strength to climb. So, in faith we climb, day in and day out.
What kind of mountains are you facing today? Is it fear of a pandemic? A prolonged illness? Is it a broken relationship? A problem at work that appears insurmountable and you don't see a way out?
We can boldly face any challenge in this life because nothing is impossible with God. Because when we have the power of God on our side, we know that the most incredibly difficult times can ultimately end in triumph – even when the mountains don't move.
