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Standing Firm in Difficult Times
I often jokingly repeat the phrase I heard once: “I can resist anything except temptation”.
While it can also be difficult to resist temptation in good times, that is a topic for another day. In this passage Jesus warns his disciples to pray and be on guard or their grief will make them vulnerable to act in ways contrary to God’s design. Why would Jesus point them to prayer?
The disciples were upset by Jesus’ prediction that He would be betrayed and die. They were confused, disappointed, anxious, and were simply overwhelmed. When this happens, we find ourselves less able to withstand the temptations of the evil one. Our defenses are weak and we barely have the energy to do basic things … like stay awake.
It is precisely at these times that we must seek God for wisdom in confusion, hope in disappointment, peace in anxiety, and strength when we are overwhelmed. Prayer, or two-way communication with God, is always the remedy to the evil one. Just as Jesus prayed in the preceding verses and received strength, God is more than willing to attend to our needs and give us the strength to resist temptations.
When we are weak, we can often give into our base nature and give into our strongest temptations such as dishonesty, abusing our bodies with alcohol/drugs/overeating, sexual sins, hatred, hurting those closest to us, etc. The good news of Scripture is that Jesus offers us the power to be free and to overcome temptation in difficult times. Our role is to seek His power through prayer.
We may not always immediately succeed just as we read about the disciples cutting off ears, denying Christ, hiding, and continuing in their discouragement for the coming days; but, God did not leave them there. He strengthened them and they changed the world. Prayer in difficult times is an act of faith and trust. It is the way to life.
Amen, Doug I know prayer has kept me safe many a time over the years. The strange thing is I think to ask for prayer when I am weak but don’t when I think I am strong. The irony is I need it more when I am thinking I am strong then when I am weak. I praise God for the many answers to prayers for simple things and tough things. I know He watches over me. God keeps me in His loving hands molding me and making me into who I am. Prayer has raised my wonderful children for 22 years. Prayer has walked me through life. It is because I can talk to God one on one, and with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that life has been made possible. Thank-you Jesus for loving us enough to talk to us.
Amen my Brother Doug! Great words…and like Penny, I do tend to have a healthier diet of prayer when I’m going through tough times, but struggle more to do it from both a quantity and quality perspective when things are going swimmingly. Regardless, clearly, as you said, prayer is “a way of life”. Thanks again and I trust that all is well with you and your family while you’re visiting Hong Kong. We look forward to having you back with us this next week…albeit for just a short while. Take care…your Brother Doug.