In the Garden With Jesus - a Lent Journey for TeensSample

Touch my heart

Jesus knows what’s coming. He is living with the awareness that His suffering will increase, and His death is near. Some emotions might have come up before, but here we see an urgent, overwhelming, in-your-face turbulence of the heart. A very emotional experience - and He is not denying it. He is not minimising it. He is not trying to escape from it. Instead, He goes to a garden, where He can sit with it and feel it out.

It is in the garden where Jesus articulates His pain, a safe space for this intimate conversation with God.

So often we deny, and run away from facing that which is causing us deep pain in life. Especially when anxiety comes with it, and we feel a sense of numbness. It is then, in these moments, that great courage and openness are required to enter such a “garden” space and feel it out with God.

There is an invitation to go to that place, a garden of sorts, for the next 40 days. Where you can feel the emotions and pain you've buried or hidden for so long, become aware of them and then ask God to touch your heart, to come close.

Exercise:

Sit in the dark, where you usually spend time with Jesus, and invite Jesus into this space.

How does it feel to know that Jesus is with you, close to you? He is looking at you and feels you.

Ask Him for the courage to embrace this garden journey, to stay in tune with your feelings and to share it with Him openly.

Prayer:

God, I’m asking for a deep awareness of Your love for me and Your work in me.