Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:39-44 (NIV)
Our Savior demonstrates to us what our MO is to be when finding ourselves in the midst of the fires of affliction - surrounded by troubles on all sides – prayer. Run to the feet of the Father Who is able to calm any storm – even the one within your own hearts. Nothing is too hard for Him. It is sad to think we pray so cavalierly until affliction rears its lovely head. We allow every little trifle and interruption to come before prayer. Yet when troubles and afflictions abound we are found more on our knees, Amen? This is one of the blessing coming from afflictions, they remind us we are not in control of all things and they give us the proper posture before the One Who is in charge. It should not be this way. Why do we wait for troubles to come to be a prayer warrior? We rob ourselves when we do. Prayer is an unbelievable privilege for the child of the King and we neglect it to our own harm. He loves to meet with us and He loves for us to pour out our hearts to Him and He loves thankful hearts.
Troubles and afflictions are also used to reveal many of the unknown corruptions buried within our hearts – anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language (just to name a few). We get pricked and they begin to spew like a dropped Coke shaken and opened. We become distrustful of God and murmur and complain just as the wandering Israelites did, much to God’s chagrin and displeasure. Often these pricks (or flat out knock outs!) are allowed for us to see what filth remains in these “pious” hearts of ours. We rarely stop to take in account that He has purposes in all things beyond our abilities to fully comprehend. Like Job, we “darken His counsel with words without knowledge”. What we do not understand we will one day – and we have God’s Word on it.
Presently we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror but one day we will see face to face. Now we simply know in part, then we will know fully – even as we are fully known. Yet, presently, we can know from Scripture that all He allows will ultimately be for our very best, and though unutterable difficult at present, we can trust Him. He loves us and has our best interests at heart – Romans 8:28 is our guarantee of that Truth.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)