Avoidance and Surrender: Two Responses to Suffering

Though the disciples followed Jesus to Gethsemane to keep watch while He prayed, they fell asleep. In a moment of grieving and agony, Jesus’ dearest friends gave in to the temptation of avoidance. Their response is familiar to us. When facing similar circumstances, we too often find ways to numb or avoid whatever burden, pain, or sorrow we encounter.

Jesus’ response stands in sharp contrast. He didn’t give in to the temptation to lay down His cup for the desires of His flesh. Motivated by His relationship with the Father, He did not avoid. Instead, He brought His grieving heart directly to God in prayer.

While He asked for a different outcome, Jesus had a complete willingness to surrender to the Father’s will. Even when He wanted another way, Jesus remained in a posture of trust and dependence on the Father.

Jesus’ deep knowledge of the Father’s nature and motives told Him that even in that moment of anguish, His cup belonged in His Father’s hands. Gethsemane reveals how our reactions to suffering are transformed when we know the Father intimately.

Think: How did the disciples avoid any pain or discomfort they were feeling? How did Jesus lean into God through His suffering? In what ways have you tried to avoid pain in your own life? How have you allowed the pain to help you lean into God?

Pray: What ways can you invite the Lord to meet you when you are tempted to numb pain with avoidance? Ask God to reveal times when you have responded like Jesus and the times you have responded like the disciples. Pray that He will help you to be more like Jesus as you respond to pain and difficulty in the future.

Respond: Jesus trusted God and surrendered to Him because He intimately knew Him. As a result, he often got away with God to pray and spend time with Him. What might it look like in your own life to establish some rhythms of getting away and spending time with God? These don’t have to be days or hours. Think about some of the mundane moments of your life (like drive time, showers, workouts) and what it could look like to transform these moments into holy times of connection.

Author: Bethany Woodard, Missions + Outreach Resident