³⁹ Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. ⁴⁰ There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

⁴¹ He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” ⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

⁴⁵ At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Luke 22:39-46

Dear God, while I was preparing last night for my talk this evening about prayers of desperation, I was looking at this passage and something occurred to me: You were teaching us to pray. Yes, you taught us “the Lord’s Prayer,” but this was unique. This was how to pray in desperation. You modeled it. And you did it with the lesson it took Job until the end of the book to learn with the words, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” I think probably the best part of suffering is if it can develop this spirit and attitude in us. If I can get myself to where I want your will above my own.

I have a friend who came to me yesterday and told me about a troubling medical diagnosis. I don’t know what his treatments will do to him, but I’m concerned. What really concerns me is that he is his wife’s caregiver since she has a myriad of health issues. I know what I want for them and him. I selfishly want both of them to live pain-free and live forever. But of course that can’t happen. What is your will for them? Oh, Father, please be very present to them and give them a peaceful and straight path forward.

I was talking with another friend yesterday who has struggles with her family, and I mean all of her family. There are struggles with the generation before her, her own generation, and then the next generation. But she is faithful and loving to all of the generations around her. Comfort and guide her and her husband as they serve and pray. Help them to want what you want and to know what you want.

There are so many to pray for, but I want to mention one more specifically. A really good man and his girlfriend lost their home to a fire three nights ago. They lost it all, and because it was an old mobile home there was no insurance on it. He is now trying to figure out how to make sense of all of this. He is mourning. He is comforting his girlfriend. He is searching. I happen to know he has done a lot to help others. Help him, now, please, Father. Show me what I can do.

Father, thank you for teaching us to pray. I offer all of me to you. I want your will. Let it be done.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen