I read someone say that “once suffering is completely accepted, it ceases in a sense to be suffering.” And there’s some truth that. That it’s the time of waiting—anticipating the suffering or trial that can be the worst. Because knowing the very real impending possibility of going through immense physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual pain creates intense distress and anxiety. It’s one of the most intense human experiences.

 

A man’s heart races standing trial before a judge and jury after days of deliberations, cross-examinations, and evidence presented, anxiously awaiting the verdict of each jury member as they stand one by one. A wife whose husband is on active duty, serving in the Middle East, sits at home and stares at her phone, waiting for a call and wondering if it’ll be the one she’s been praying every single day that she’d never receive. An expectant mother and her husband in the waiting room, as they await test results checking their baby’s health who she has barely felt move over the past few days. A husband and his wife, waiting for the surgeon’s report on the biopsy, after years of battling cancer and already experiencing the grueling ordeal of radiation and chemotherapy: Has the cancer spread? I can’t bear another round of chemo/radiation. Or is it too late and there’s nothing more they can do?

 

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus too, waits. He waits for the hour that he has been moving towards his entire life on earth. He waits for what he has predicted several times must happen, to his disciples—his rejection, betrayal, abandonment, suffering, and death. He waits for the betrayer to arrive at any moment and hand him over to the chief priests that will effectively seal his fate and from which there will be no turning back.

 

And Jesus is anxious, beyond anything he’s ever experienced—filled with dread—grief—sorrow—anticipating the horrors of the events about to unfold. And in his humanity—he contemplates if just for a moment—there’s another way. Another way to accomplish his mission—to reconcile sinners back to God, the salvation of the world—for a God with whom all things are possible—as he throws himself on the ground before God.

 

And what we see here revealed as in no other place in all the Bible is the humanity of Jesus who is not only fully and truly God, but fully and truly Man, human. Who experiences the full range of human emotions more intensely than any other human being who ever lived and will. He is greatly distressed—troubled; Filled with grief; Sorrowful; Anxious; Stressed; Lonely; Dejected; Tested; And yes—even tempted! And yet in spite of what he knows lies ahead—in spite of the crushing anxiety and stress he experiences in his body, being, and soul—he yields to the will of the Father in perfect, humble submission.

 

…Because he knows this is God’s plan from eternity to rescue and redeem sinners—and there is no other way but by pouring out his life to death in their place on the cross. He willfully accepts, obeys God, and in so doing, models the highest and purest example of humble, faithful, and obedient submission to God’s will and plan for your life.

 

No matter what lies ahead—no matter how severe the suffering—no matter how great the trial—you must continue trusting that God has a plan/purpose in it, and humbly accept it as his will for your life, just as Jesus did, and know that God will carry you through, just as he did his only begotten Son, Jesus.