While praying the other night, I was reflecting on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, also known as His Agony in the Garden.
Imagine the scene – darkness, surrounded by only trees and rocks to keep one company. Jesus, the only person awake and in prayer, is kneeling down, in such anguish that His “sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground” (Luke 22:44).
It’s a stark moment in Christ’s lifetime where He showed the duality of His nature, as someone both fully human and fully divine. I have read somewhere that while Jesus was in His Agony, He was seeing clearly with his mind and heart, the actions which would come to pass. In His moment of human weakness, He begged God, the Father, to let the cup pass from Him.
And, in the end, He acknowledges, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”
We all have a moment in our lives, or many of us have several moments in our lives, where we are in agony, and where we are faced with doing what we want to do, rather than what God is asking of us. From that evening’s reflection sprang the following prayer. If it touches you, please print it out, share it, or simply say a heartfelt Amen.
Ever-loving God, Our Father,
You alone know our successes and challenges, often times before we even know them. You alone know the day we will face, often times before we even awake in the morning. You alone are constantly there for us, often times waiting for us to turn to You when we have forgotten You are there.
Many times, I stray from You. I have a habit of letting other things take precedence – my family, my work, my daily activities. I put You aside, and focus on providing for my own individual wants. I forget You are there, waiting for me to turn to You, to talk with You, to seek You.
And yet, You wait patiently for me.
Jesus, Your Son, turned to You in His darkest hours and moments. He lifted His eyes to You, begging You, and then had the love for You, and the love for me, to ask that Your will be done.
Lord God, You alone know how many times I have faced my deepest, darkest moments, and have tried to solve my problems without Your assistance. You have watched me struggle in pain, asking why, and begging that the cup pass from me.
And yet, You are there to comfort me, when I fail to accept “Thy will be done.”
God, Our Father, I give you my heart, my soul, my everything. I want to surrender myself and my will to you.
Holy Spirit, I ask you to help me to be like Jesus, in His moments of agony – to turn toward God in the moments of my agonies, and utter the words, “not my will, but Thine be done.”
Jesus, You accepted God’s will for You – for love of Him, and love of me. Help inspire me to have the same love of Our Father, so that I always remember Your example, when my agonies appear.
For, Your example is the shining star, and with the help of Your grace, I know I will be able to learn God’s will be done.
And, I will be able to firmly say, “Jesus, I trust in You.”
Amen.
Beautiful prayer!
Thank you!!
Amazing prayer and reminder of God’s divine plan is beyond our understanding at times and we have to trust in Him! Love it ❤️
Thank you!
I have often looked to that moment of agony in the garden for personal strength and courage. Thanks for sharing the prayer.
I’m so happy to hear you liked the prayer. That moment is, quote awesomely, a poignant reminder of Christ’s struggle and acceptance, which should definitely give us strength and courage! Thanks for stopping by.
This was lovely and so timely! Thank you for sharing your prayer, I think we all can relate.
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!!
This is beautiful. The agony in the garden is one of my fave mysteries!
Thank you! I have to admit – my favorite Sorrowful Mystery is Jesus carrying His Cross… but, this was the specific Mystery I spent the most time reflecting on this Lent. Odd how things work like that!
Thanks for letting me know you stopped by!
I am currently reviewing NT scholar Raymond Brown’s masterpiece, “The Death of the Messiah”. I welcome any input from Christian apologists.
https://lutherwasnotbornagaincom.wordpress.com/2017/12/27/nt-scholar-raymond-brown-why-is-jesus-anguished-regarding-his-impending-death-in-mark-but-not-in-luke/
I will admit I am not familiar with Raymond Brown’s work, and am but a beginning apologist, but I certainly look forward to checking out your piece and sitting with it when I get a little down time. What I read so far is intriguing!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting – and, leaving your link!
This prayer leaflet revealed itself to me just this week, although I have it for a long long time. I actually live in D18 , and wondered if there was a group associated with this prayer. Yes a truly beautiful and meaningful prayer. Was at the gate of the garden, but did not get to go in It was a well designed space, with what looked like herbs and flowers, but I could only see a little beyond the gate. The whole story of lonliness is felt deeply on reading that prayer, and now being holy week – a good time to read it and reflect.
Thank you for bringing it to light just at this time. It is definitely a healing prayer. K
Thank you. Holding you close in prayer during this Holy Week and into the Easter season… 🙏🙏