The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Resurrection hope, new life after loss, and God’s redemptive work are beautifully revealed in The Garden after the Grave. Rooted in John 20:11, this devotional shows how God brings life out of what feels buried, reminding us that the empty tomb is not the end—but the beginning.
Mary came to the garden expecting death, not a miracle. Grief clouded her vision, making it impossible to recognize that Jesus was standing right in front of her. Yet in a deeply personal moment, everything changed when Jesus called her by name. This powerful scene mirrors our own lives—how often we stand in places that feel empty, unaware that God is already at work. Just as the first garden in Eden represented what was lost, this garden after the resurrection reveals what is being restored. God is still bringing life where we only see loss, growing something new beneath the surface even when all seems silent.
Highlights
God often brings new life in places that feel like endings
Grief can cloud our vision, but Jesus meets us personally in it
The resurrection reverses what was lost in the Garden of Eden
What looks like death may actually be the beginning of renewal
Jesus reveals Himself in intimate, personal ways—often when we least expect it
Waiting seasons are not empty; God is working beneath the surface
The resurrection reminds us that our story doesn’t end in the grave
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Full Transcript Below:
The Garden after the Grave
By: Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” - John 20:11
Can you see her? There is a woman broken by death, unable to keep the tears inside. It was a heartbreaking scene.
For those of us who know the story, it is tempting to step into the story and just reassure Mary that Jesus had already risen. But let’s remember she did not know this. She has come to this garden looking for death. It says that she looked inside the tomb, expecting a body, not a miracle.
Although Mary stood in a garden, she did not expect life. Resurrection morning begins in a Garden, and so do the first few chapters of the Bible.
“And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” - Genesis 2:8 (ESV)
As the story of Easter begins, we find Mary at a tomb in a garden. Do we expect to find God here? Mary did not. She was searching, weeping, and only able to see the darkness of death. She sees an empty tomb and two angels. The weeping does not end at the sight of the heavenly beings. Instead, sorrow wraps itself around her and clouds her view. She doesn’t see the empty tomb as hopeful, but mournful.
Immediately, Mary turns. Her grief doesn’t allow her to see the truth about the garden, the empty tomb, and the Man standing in front of her. John 20:14 says, “She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.”
The beautiful part of this story is that Mary mistook Jesus for the Gardner. Little did she know, He was and is the great Gardener. Mary stood in the garden, blinded by tears and unable to see that resurrection was coming.
In the winter, our gardens lie dead, devoid of color and life. As we winter through the cold months, the ground beneath is not dead at all, but waiting. Just like Mary, we might need to remember that sometimes we stand in the place of new life, even if we are surrounded by loss.
Reading about this garden Mary stood in reminds me of the first garden. God created life in a garden, but sin entered there, and humanity was sent out. The Garden of Eden is now a symbol of what was lost: God’s presence, a sense of wholeness, and unbroken fellowship.
All of these things lost in the first garden were soon to be recovered in this second garden. In a moment, Mary’s tears turn to wonderment.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni! (which means Teacher).’” - John 20:16-17
Jesus meets Mary not in a spectacle of power and glory but in intimacy, reminding her of the relationship. When Jesus says Mary’s name, she suddenly recognizes him. It is in this moment that new life begins to bud in her heart. It is not a coincidence that the resurrection happens in a garden.
Gardens require a burial of the seed into the ground, waiting, and patience. Remember that a seed is not dead when it is buried. The amazing things about gardens are that during the winter they look like loss, emptiness, and sorrow. But in the spring, God brings life from what we see as death. Every spring, we are reminded that death was defeated and Jesus rose from the dead!
There is a great truth here because Jesus’ physical resurrection brings with it a great promise. The door Jesus opened for us after the idea that all things will be made new. Even now, we see this happening in our lives as God restores us, remembers us, and gives us rest. God met us first in the garden as Creator. Jesus met Mary in a garden as Teacher. One day, Jesus will return as King and meet us to take us home, making all things new.
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” - Revelation 21:5
Just like Mary, we can rest in the truth that death does not win, loss is not permanent, and God grows new life where we least expect it. The same God who planted both gardens is still tending our story today.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Can you take the story of the gardens and believe that life happens after the grave? What in your life feels dead and buried? How can you trust God with this truth: the grave is not the final chapter of your story.
Further Reading:
Genesis 2:8-9
Genesis 3:22-24
Isaiah 61:11
2 Corinthians 5:17
Revelation 22:1-2
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The true meaning of Easter centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, offering hope, salvation, and victory over death. Rediscovering the Real Meaning of Easter invites us to move beyond cultural traditions and refocus on the life-changing truth of Matthew 28:6—He is risen.
For many, Easter can easily become about traditions like candy, egg hunts, and the Easter Bunny. While those things aren’t inherently wrong, they can quietly shift our attention away from what matters most. When we truly understand the resurrection, everything changes. Easter becomes more than a holiday—it becomes a celebration of grace, redemption, and new life found in Christ. This renewed perspective not only deepens our personal faith but also creates opportunities to share the Gospel with others in a meaningful, authentic way.
Highlights
Easter is ultimately about Jesus’ death and resurrection—not just traditions
Cultural celebrations can unintentionally distract from the Gospel
Understanding the resurrection transforms how we celebrate Easter
Sharing your personal faith story can help others understand the Gospel
The resurrection gives us victory over sin and death
Eternal life is made possible through Jesus’ finished work on the cross
Easter is an opportunity to boldly and lovingly share the Good News
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Full Transcript Below:
Rediscovering the Real Meaning of Easter
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” - Matthew 28:6
Easter is a wonderful time to reflect on the beauty and goodness of Christ. When I was growing up, however, I didn’t understand Easter at all. I mainly associated it with the Easter Bunny and candy. I knew nothing about Jesus Christ or His death on the cross.
Although my mom was a Christian, I don’t remember fully absorbing any teachings about Easter when I was a child or a teenager. Perhaps those lessons simply went over my head, but I genuinely don’t recall learning about Jesus’ sacrifice.
Everything changed after I became a Christian during my first year of college. That was when I began to understand the true purpose of Easter and realized what a beautiful and meaningful celebration it is.
The first Easter I celebrated as a follower of the Lord was filled with worship. My sister and I even changed some of our family traditions to make them more focused on Jesus. My childhood fascination with the Easter Bunny faded, replaced by a deeper appreciation for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. One year, we even made a cross decorated with flowers and placed it on our front door as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and victory.
Easter has changed a lot for me, but in the best way possible. Once I truly understood the meaning of Easter, I couldn’t believe I had celebrated the holiday for so long without recognizing its real purpose.
Easter is about Jesus—not the Easter Bunny, egg hunts, or candy. While those traditions are not wrong in themselves, they can easily distract from the holiday's true meaning. When commercialism becomes the focus, it takes Jesus out of Easter and turns the celebration into something it was never meant to be.
As followers of Christ, Easter is also a meaningful opportunity to share the Gospel with others. Many people have heard the Gospel, yet its meaning hasn’t fully reached their hearts. This can be true for both children and adults. Because of this, we should look for opportunities to share the message of Jesus—even with people who may already be familiar with it. Sometimes hearing the truth again allows it to take root more deeply.
When sharing the Gospel, speak in a personal, sincere way. This helps others truly hear and understand what you are saying. Sharing your testimony can also be powerful before or after explaining the Gospel. Trust the Holy Spirit to work in each person’s heart, and don’t become discouraged if someone doesn’t accept Christ immediately. For many of us, faith was a journey that took time before we chose to fully place our trust in Jesus.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
At the tomb of the risen Lord, an angel declared, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6).
This beautiful truth gives us hope and encouragement even in our darkest moments. Jesus truly rose from the dead, and through Him we have victory over death. While we will still physically die one day, death does not have the final word. Those who trust in Christ will live forever with Him.
The gift of eternal life is possible only because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Because of Him, we have hope not only for the future but also for the present.
During this Easter season, we can celebrate the Lord, help others come to know Him, and rejoice in the salvation He offers. One of the greatest ways we can show our love and devotion to Him is by sharing the Good News with others. Just as the angel announced Christ’s resurrection, we are called to share that same message with the world.
Easter is not simply another holiday on the calendar. It is the celebration of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. Through Him, we have received forgiveness, redemption, and victory over the grave.
Celebrate this truth during the Easter season, and allow the joy of Christ’s resurrection to overflow into every part of your life. Jesus accomplished something extraordinary when He rose from the dead, and one day He will return again and bring a final end to evil (Revelation 1:7).
Has your interpretation and understanding of Easter changed over the years? How can you share the Gospel with a loved one this Easter?
Further Reading:
Luke 19:10
Luke 24:1-53
John 5:28-29
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Waiting on God, trusting His timing, and holding onto hope in suffering are at the heart of When the Miracle Hasn’t Come Yet. Rooted in Romans 8:24–25 and the story of Lazarus in John 11, this devotional explores how God’s love remains constant—even when answers feel delayed.
In seasons of pain, silence, or unanswered prayers, it’s easy to question where God is. Yet Scripture shows us that delay is not the absence of love. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus deeply—and still waited. That tension is where faith grows. Biblical hope isn’t pretending everything is fine; it’s trusting that God is still working when we can’t yet see the outcome. Even in the waiting, Jesus is still our resurrection and our life. The miracle may not have come yet—but His presence is already with us.
Highlights
God’s delay does not mean He is distant or uncaring
Faith allows room for both belief and honest grief
Biblical hope is anchored in what we cannot yet see
Jesus is our hope now—not just when the miracle comes
Waiting seasons are not wasted; they deepen our dependence on God
God’s love and our suffering can coexist without contradiction
You are not alone—God is present even in the silence
Full Transcript Below:
When the Miracle Hasn’t Come Yet
By: Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” - Romans 8:24-25
If God loves me why am I suffering?
I asked this question many years ago while sitting awake in bed at 2 AM. I was battling an intense time of depression and anxiety. Sleep would not come, even after begging God for relief. I had gotten so tired that I couldn’t rest. Tears rolled down my cheek.
As I walked through the valley of depression, I began to search out why God would delay my healing. I wrestled with the question of how God could be loving but also allow suffering as well. Our passage for today speaks into this tension.
“Now a man named Lazarus was sick… Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So… he stayed where he was two more days.” - John 11:5-6
Notice that it says Jesus loved them! It is evident in other scriptures that Jesus had a close relationship with all three siblings. Yet, when they needed him the most, Jesus delayed. If He loved them, why didn’t He hurry to heal Lazarus? For two days, Jesus didn’t move. So many of us feel like we are living in that “two-day delay.” We are loved, but we are still waiting.
One night, while sitting in my bed, unable to fall asleep, I remember finally being honest with God. I told him that I was so depressed and asked Him why He didn’t take this pain away. Mary and Martha, in John 11, were also honest with Jesus.
“‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” - John 11:21
There is belief here. She believed Jesus could have helped, but she also expressed her grief. How many of us shy away from both things when we are waiting for relief from our own suffering? Faith in God does not mean we can’t be disappointed. Jesus did not chide her for her honesty. Believing God’s promises and His power does not silence our sorrow.
Although Jesus does resurrect Lazarus, Martha didn’t know this. You and I know that one day our new bodies will not suffer, and all tears will be wiped away. But that doesn’t mean we don’t live in unresolved circumstances now.
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” - Romans 8:24-25
Biblical hope is not wishful thinking or denial. Mary and Martha did not deny the pain, nor did they have a vague belief in Jesus. Martha stood in her grief before she saw glory. Many of us do that too. Paul, in the book of Romans, encourages us to wait for what we cannot see and hope will come.
Resurrection means that death does not win. Delay does not cancel love, and the grave does not get the final word. Often, we believe that God’s love means we will have immediate answers or instant healing. Instead, we find that God’s timeline and ours don’t always match. Jesus was the resurrection and the life before Lazarus walked out of the tomb. He is the resurrection for us, even if tears fall.
“I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25
Notice what Jesus did not say: “I will perform a resurrection.” He said, “I am.” This is one of the many “I AM” statements found throughout the Gospel of John. In this moment, Jesus is declaring Himself God. Very soon after this moment, Jesus would face His own death, and then God would resurrect Jesus as well. Notice that the miracle came later. Jesus is still our hope, our savior, and our king, even if we find ourselves still inside the tomb.
Depression is like a tomb for me. So many times I’ve suffered through seasons of extreme sorrow, feeling like I was dying. In those moments, I began to cling to Jesus. Nothing around me felt any different, but as I read scripture, especially this passage, I realize that Jesus sees my sorrow, loves me deeply, and was willing to die Himself so I could one day be free from pain and sorrow.
The same Savior who sometimes allows suffering is the One who ultimately conquered it on the cross. So if you find yourself praying at 2 a.m., longing for relief, just remember that you are not forgotten. You may not see the miracle yet. But you are not waiting alone.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Where does it feel like God is late in showing up for you? What prayer feels unanswered? What miracle are you waiting and hoping for? You are not abandoned in the delay. Love can coexist with waiting. Resurrection hope sustains sometimes before it resolves.
Further Reading:
Isaiah 30:18
Lamentations 3:25-26
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Hebrews 11:13
Revelation 21:4-5
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Spiritual surrender, trusting God’s timing, and releasing control take center stage in Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1–2. The Burial Before the Breakthrough reveals how God often does His deepest work in our hearts before He changes our circumstances.
Hannah’s journey through infertility, longing, and public shame paints a powerful picture of what it means to wrestle with unmet desires. Yet instead of turning away, she brought her pain directly to God—honestly, persistently, and with surrender. Her breakthrough didn’t begin with the birth of Samuel, but with a transformed heart that desired God’s will above her own. This story reminds us that sometimes God allows seasons of waiting not to withhold from us, but to reshape us, deepen our dependence on Him, and prepare us for something greater than we imagined.
Highlights
God often transforms our hearts before He changes our circumstances
Seasons of waiting can draw us closer to God rather than away from Him
Even good desires can become idols if they take God’s place in our hearts
True peace comes from surrendering our will to God’s greater plan
Breakthrough often begins in the “burial” of our own expectations
God sees our pain, hears our prayers, and works behind the scenes
Lasting fulfillment is found in God, not in the things we’re asking for
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
The Burial before the Breakthrough
By Hannah Benson

Bible Reading:
“And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.” - 1 Samuel 2:1-5 (ESV)
I’ve often wondered why I love Hannah’s story.
Perhaps it’s because we share the same name, or because the deep ache burning within her is something we can all relate to. Even if we cannot relate to the infertility of her womb, surely, we can relate to the infertility of her heart.
Hannah deeply desired a child, but for years, she wrestled with barrenness. In those days, it was a cultural norm: a woman’s worth was measured by her children.
Don’t get me wrong. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3 ESV). ALL children are precious gifts from God above and meant to be treasured, cherished, and loved!
For Hannah, not only did she desire to be a mother, but infertility was a societal weight. Because she couldn’t bear a child, her husband’s line would die with her.
Consequently, Elkanah was bound by duty to take a second wife, Peninnah, turning Hannah’s grief into public shame.
Imagine the immense sadness that increased with each day as Hannah was reminded of what she didn’t have. While once she may have been reminded anytime she visited an ever-growing family, now the patter of little feet haunted her in her home.
Her husband was a proud father, but not of her child.
Can we imagine?
To make matters worse, she received no sympathy from Peninnah. Her husband’s second wife “used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:6 ESV).
Undoubtedly, Hannah would’ve asked God, “Why”?
She may’ve wondered if God had a plan.
Why wouldn’t He bless her with a child?
We know Elkanah loved Hannah very much. When he and his household went up to worship the LORD and to offer sacrifices, he gave portions to Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. But as is written in 1 Samuel 1:5 (ESV), “But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.”
Although Peninnah had his children, Hannah had his heart.
As hard as it can be to understand sometimes, God wasn’t cruel in closing her womb. He sees what we can’t when we’re in the middle of the fight, and later we see it wasn’t for Hannah’s harm but for God to weave a beautiful story far beyond what she could even imagine.
What inspires me is that Hannah chose to go to the temple “year by year” to worship God anyway. Though it would’ve been easier to stay home and avoid Peninnah’s constant taunts, she let the hole in her heart drive her into the arms of God.
“And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8 ESV).
Hannah’s heart was broken. Yes, she loved her husband, but the ache in her heart was so great that not even he could fill it.
We often believe that receiving the thing we long for will satisfy us, but only God can satisfy the true hunger of our souls. If we look to anything but Him, we shall be sorely disappointed.
It doesn’t mean God doesn’t desire to give us good gifts. He does. But He wants to be the greatest desire of our hearts, whom we long for more than anything else.
I don’t know exactly what drove Hannah to her knees.
Perhaps she was simply tired of Peninnah’s taunting.
Perhaps she realized there was nothing she could do to change her circumstances, and so she needed the Lord to change her heart.
1 Samuel 1:10-11 (ESV) says: “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
Eli, the priest, saw Hannah and thought she was drunk. When she explained that she was crying out before the Lord, he told her to “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him” (1 Samuel 1:17 ESV).
Hannah’s heart changed the moment she wanted God’s will more than her own.
How many of us cling to a desire so tightly that we refuse to yield it, eventually losing sight of why we even wanted it? Even “good” desires can become idols when we want our will more than God’s.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
In Hannah’s story, God chose to change her circumstances after he changed her heart. But one of the greatest miracles in her story wasn’t just the arrival of Samuel (although that was a huge blessing and answer to prayer!) but the peace in her heart that came before the answered prayer.
When God blessed Hannah with her first child (and yes, she went on to have 5 more children), she kept her word, brought him to the temple after he was weaned, and gave him to Eli to serve the Lord all his days. She surrendered the very thing she’d once wept for. How hard must that have been to give her only son back to God?
Yet God gave her strength, and her satisfaction was now truly found in God alone.
God doesn’t always change our circumstances, but He will change our hearts if we ask.
Hannah is an inspiration to me as I ask myself: Have I relinquished control? Have I surrendered? Have I allowed my own will to be “buried” so God’s will may be done?
Whether the Lord chooses to answer the prayers the way I want or not, will I trust that He is still working everything for my good?
I pray you will be inspired today. God sees you. He knows the prayers you pray and the desires on your heart.
Do you trust Him with what matters most to you?
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Facing fear, surrender, and trust in God’s plan takes center stage in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus models honest prayer and unwavering obedience. The Night Before the Cross explores how Jesus’ surrender in Matthew 26:36–39 invites us to trust God—even when the path ahead feels overwhelming.
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus experienced deep sorrow and anguish, fully aware of the suffering He would endure. Yet in that moment, He didn’t hide His emotions—He brought them honestly before the Father. His prayer reveals a powerful tension: a desire for relief paired with complete trust in God’s will. This moment reminds us that faith isn’t the absence of struggle—it’s choosing trust in the middle of it. Because of Jesus’ surrender, we are invited to bring our hardest emotions to God while still believing in His greater plan.
Highlights
Jesus models honest prayer—bringing raw emotions to God without holding back
Surrendering to God’s will doesn’t remove fear, but it anchors us in trust
Even Jesus sought the presence of friends, showing our need for community
Gethsemane reminds us that obedience often comes through deep struggle
God’s plan can be trusted, even when it leads through suffering
Jesus understands our pain, making Him a compassionate Savior
True faith is saying “Your will be done” even when it’s difficult
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
The Night Before the Cross
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” – Matthew 26:36-39, NIV
When I visited Israel and Palestine on a pilgrimage trip, I was moved to tears by the ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since olive trees regenerate, they can live for many generations. Some of those trees with the wide, twisted branches were descendants of the trees that were there when Jesus prayed in the garden the night before going to the cross. I imagined Jesus in agony there, knowing he would be crucified the next day and have to take the burden of all sin from his creation onto himself. No one had ever had such a heavy burden to carry in this fallen and broken world.
Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to “stay here and keep watch with me.” He simply wanted the comfort of having his friends nearby. Jesus shows us that needing other people is an important part of being human. Even though his friends eventually let him down and fell asleep, the human part of Jesus reached out for their support. The divine part of Jesus knew that people are meant to encourage one another.
Then, Jesus prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” He didn’t want to go through the excruciating physical pain of being crucified, but even more than that, he didn’t want the spiritual weight of carrying the world’s mistakes. He was completely honest with God when he asked if there was a way out. This is so encouraging for us today! It shows us we can tell God exactly how we feel, even when we’re dealing with difficult emotions. We don’t have to pretend to be happy when we’re actually sad, or to be peaceful when we’re actually terrified. God can handle our honest prayers about our most challenging feelings.
But then, the story changes. After asking God the Father to change the plan if possible, Jesus added those famous words: “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus prayed with total trust. He knew that God’s will was best. Jesus trusted God’s plan more than he trusted his own human fear. His love for God and for humanity inspired him to let go of his will so he could do God’s will for us.
We all have our own Garden of Gethsemane experiences – those times when we’re facing situations we don’t want to happen, and feel overwhelmed by them. But when we face those challenges, we can remember how Jesus prayed on the night before going to the cross. Jesus is a Savior who understands our sadness. He shows us that God isn’t afraid of our honesty. Most importantly, Jesus shows us how we can trust God’s plans for us, even while we’re challenged by those plans. The night before the cross was the darkest night in history, but it was also the night that proved just how much Jesus loves us!
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how you can be honest with God about your hard feelings and still trust God’s plans for you, reflect on these questions:
When you’re going through a hard time, why is it important to you to reach out to friends or family?
Jesus was “overwhelmed with sorrow” on the night before the cross. How does knowing that Jesus experienced so much emotional pain change the way you feel comfortable talking to him in prayer?
Is there something in your life right now that you’re asking God to take away? If God keeps that in your life anyway, what will help you trust God in that situation?
What makes it challenging to say: “Not as I will, but as you will” in your current circumstances?
How does Jesus’ surrender in the garden give you hope for the difficult situations you’re facing?
Further Reading:
Philippians 2:8
Luke 22:44
Isaiah 53:3
Psalm 34:18
Hebrews 4:15
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