Gethsemane was the garden where Jesus went to pray when his trial became crushing and his cup overwhelmed him. It was where he wept out his deepest sorrows before the Father. And it was also where he won the battle over every evil principality and power.
Some Christians today say, “Ours is not a generation of tears. We have been called to celebrate and commanded to take everything by faith. We can speak the Word and every mountain will be moved. We are to simply meditate on God’s goodness.” Such is the posture of the prosperous modern church.
I agree that our God is a God of love and, yes, we are to celebrate before him. But there comes a time when our trials are so overwhelming that we can do nothing but cry before his throne. It happened to Jesus, yet he did not sin in unbelief when he prayed in Gethsemane. On the contrary, Jesus was demonstrating to his people how to obtain power and authority over all satanic forces.
Consider Jesus’ prayers at Gethsemane:
- “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death” (Matthew 26:38). His declaration is saying, in essence, “This is beyond understanding and if it goes on, it will kill me.”
- Jesus continued, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (26:39). Have you ever prayed in such agony that hot tears streaked your face?
Jesus prayed the “ultimate prayer” at Gethsemane, meaning the final prayer that would move mountains and shake hell. It was simply this: “Not as I will, but as You will.” You may have wrestled in prayer over a situation. You tell God how you have fasted and interceded, knocked, sought and believed, and yet what you want is not happening. This has created a real conflict in your spirit.
I encourage you to cast everything into his hands and enter into the place of rest he has prepared (Hebrews 4:1). He has promised, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18). And your Father keeps his promises!