His closest companions, those he trusted the most, could not keep awake with him for one hour. His hour of agony was lonely and hard. The cross loomed large and the resurrection still only a promise. The darkness of the night was superseded only by the darkness of the promise for tomorrow. This is where Jesus found himself in the garden of Gethsemane, praying his heart out to God the Father who he knew loved him but permitted him to be in this lonely valley of decision making without light or support.
It appeared that all his systems of support had failed.
It seemed that nothing worked and everything had failed.
Some would call the experience the dark night of the soul. Others would call it betrayal in the worst possible way. And those who have gone before tell us that if we live long enough, most of us will know what it is like to have our comfortable and trusted support systems evaporate like a morning fog. When they do, we are often left with empty hands, aching hearts, and troubled minds. ls it the end when all our systems fail? Or is it the mark of a new beginning? When we are the ones with empty hands, troubled hearts, and confused minds, it is hard to think of new beginnings. When the reality of brokenness and darkness is so pervasive, clinging to hope and light can be nearly impossible. And yet if our feeble faith can reach out to the living God and remember a little of the two thousand years of Christian experience, we discover much that remains strong and sure even after all our systems have failed. Perhaps this is the time when, with anxious hearts and empty hands, we are ready to receive the presence and the power of the One who raised Jesus the dead. The One who earlier had inspired Mary to say, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). The same One who brought Jesus from the tomb and called Lazarus to life seeks to bring new hope and life to us even when that seems an impossible feat, even for God.
This is an excerpt from the book A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God by Reuben P. Job.
If you would like to buy this book please click here.