Journey to Easterنموونە

A Life of Courage

Jesus lived a life of courage. We see throughout the Gospels so many moments where He stood up for people against religious leaders, reset culture in the temple, and spent time with people whom the community despised.

Yet it’s this moment in the garden of Gethsemane I think we can be encouraged from today. We see Jesus talking to His dad in an honest, human way… ‘I don’t want to’. ‘This is harder than I thought…’ 'Do we have a plan B?’ Jesus: ‘Father, this is the last thing I want. If there is any way, please take this bitter cup from Me. Not My will, but Yours be done’ (Matthew 26:39, The Voice).

In this case there was no way around. The purpose for Jesus was to go through with this. Jesus had the courage to acknowledge the despair He felt, and in the next breath ask God for the strength to go through if that was still the plan.

If you find yourself in a moment of discouragement, pain or despair today, I pray these words are an encouragement for your soul.

Amidst the pain that lades these days, Give me courage, O Lord; courage to live them fully, to love and to allow myself to be loved, to remember, to grieve, and honour what was, to live with thanksgiving in what is, and to invest in the hope of what will be.

(Excerpt from a Liturgy for Embracing Both Sorrow and Joy, Every Moment Holy Vol 2, Douglas McKelvey)

Written by NATALIE BENNETT