Running to the Father’s Arms
I find prayer to be a challenging daily discipline.
I know that nothing trumps time with the Lord. I’m familiar with how Jesus teaches us to pray (Matthew 6:19-13, Luke 11:1-4) and I’ve recited His prayer a million times. I never have a shortage of people or situations in my life which need it. And yet, the practice seems so abstract to my pragmatist brain, the objectives are not always clear, and unfortunately, I often find it too easy to simply forget to do. If you’re like me, you’ve asked questions such as, “What is the point of telling God what we want when He already knows?” or “Why would I ask for something when God is just going to do what He wants anyway?”
I was reminded of some important truth on that matter while reading Mark 14:32-42. This is the scene where Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion. Mark describes Jesus’ demeanor as “deeply distressed and horrified” and quotes Jesus saying, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow - to the point of death.” (33-34) Next, He asks the Father to free Him from the impending wrath He is about to endure. Yet at the end of his plea, He says, “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” (36)
Why is Jesus so serious about praying at this time? Why does He plead with the Father? He’s in perfect submission to the Father’s will and has accepted His role in bringing it about. He already knows the outcome and told His disciples about it in advance. Why is this dialogue necessary?
What Jesus says in verse 38 might answer that question. After rebuking Peter and the rest for falling asleep on Him, He says, “Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
That statement may have been directed at Peter’s eventual denying of Jesus. Perhaps that temptation would have been overcome had he joined Jesus in prayer. But there’s something else there: Jesus may also have been referring to Himself with that statement. His spirit was sinless and perfect. But in taking on flesh, He inherited the same human emotions, struggles, and temptations as everyone else. This was made evident as He dealt with Satan in the desert, grappled with Lazarus’ death, and here, anticipated His fateful next twenty four hours.
In that moment of human struggle, Jesus did not seek a shortcut or an escape. He simply ran to the arms of His Father. And in doing so, He modeled the way we ought to approach Him in our prayers.
Pain and suffering are inevitable in this life. We never know if or when God will deliver us from the things our flesh battles with. But this snapshot from Jesus’ life reminds us of three truths: first, we can bring our struggles to a God who has experienced the full extent of temptation and suffering. He understands better than anyone. (Hebrews 4:15) Second, we should not pray for the sake of outcomes, but for alignment with God and His will. Think about that. As long as our spirits abide in Him, there is no fleshly struggle our spirits can’t handle. Third, we have the hope of the resurrection. We will one day rise again, forever free from suffering.
When you pray today, put it all out on the table - your fear, your grief, your uncertainty, your desires. Some of the greatest moments of understanding in your life will come from seasons which force you to lay those things before the Father. Whether or not a specific prayer gets answered, you can be assured that your love and knowledge of Him will grow through that outpouring. The more you seek God, the more you will see him. And the more you see Him, the more you will seek Him.
Remember that your greatest battle is not the one you fight in your flesh, but the spiritual battle against darkness. (Ephesians 6:12) There is no greater weapon than your willingness to run to the Father’s arms in prayer.
~ Jared Grenfell and his wife Grace have have been active members of the LIFE Fellowship community for several years. Jared has served in various roles on the LIFE Worship team including Music Director.