Sorrowful and Troubled

Matthew 26:36-37 The 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.

    Do you have a couple of friends that you can turn to when you are troubled?  The friends I am referring to are what would be called close friends. They are people you have laughed with, frequently share time with, and possibly shared tears with over difficult times in your lives.  They are the kind of friends that accept you for who you are, and you accept for who they are.  How you came to be friends can be of little consequence.  There are two important aspects in this kind of friendship.

1.)  You are there for each other when times are good, and when times are bad.  The matter of being available is what counts.  In our modern world of cellular, text messaging, and social media the avenues for connection have expanded drastically from anything in the past.  Knowing that there is someone out there to talk with, to reach out to is incredibly important. And for the person that is reached out to, your role is to put a face on the love of Christ.  To listen, to talk, to care, and to pray with.  And most importantly to know that someone is there to not just pray with you, but to pray for you is so indescribably comforting.  A little piece of the peace of God that surpasses all understanding flows from that simple act of praying for a close friend.  The grace of God flows abundantly in prayer.

2.)  A close friend also holds us accountable.  This can be difficult at times for the friend to do. But having someone who is willing to speak openly, honestly, and objectively is another part what a close friend can do.  It is very easy, and tempting to throw a pity party when we are suffering.  The close friend is one who will call us on things we need to be called on. They will help us to see with our own eyes what fault we have, or what role we played in our current situation.  This is truly an act of love and done with trust and without malice.  We may not be able to see the fault in ourselves and a close friend will step up in love to help.

    Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him because he needs the accountability and the prayer aspects of these, his closest friends.  He asks this of these three men during a time when he is troubled as at no other time in his life.  He knows his limitations, and he knows that without their help and support he may weaken.  His time of testing is upon him and he needs to prepare for what He knows is ahead.  He needs His closest friends.  Dear friends of the Risen Savior, do you have close friends and are you a close friend someone can call upon in their time of sorrow and trouble?

    Prayer:  Almighty God, we are placed on this earth with the knowledge that we are not alone. You are with us always. And we also know that You have given us close friends we can reach out to when we are struggling. Help us to reach out to You through faith. And help us to be worthy of the trust placed in us when others reach out in need. We ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen