In The Garden

     We have all heard talk about the valleys and the mountaintops. It is in the valley we grow and on the mountaintops when we seem to reach heaven and see the glory of God. I want to talk about what happens in the garden. Have you ever been there? I am talking about the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus found Himself alone shedding drops of blood. It was here that His friends fell asleep on Him. It was here that He went to them a few times to ask,

"Could you not pray for one hour".

     It was here that He was alone and felt the most loneliness. It is here where we can meet Him when we don't understand what is going on in our lives. It is here where He cries out

"nevertheless, not my will but Your will be done."

     I have found myself in this place many times. To be honest when I heard Jesus say,

"Follow Me",

     I really didn't know I would follow Him into this place! A place where there is no one else around. A place where even if there are others around they do not know what you are going through. A place where even the closest friend cannot cry out to God for you, for it is a place that is meant for just you and God. A place where we come to submission to His will and not our own. A place where we cry out, "Lord take this cup from me." A place where we think it will never get any better than this. It is in this place where we really meet Jesus. It is here where we can say "Yes Lord I will follow You no matter what the costs". It is here where He meets us and says, "I know how you feel, and I know what you are going through." It is here where He is but thankfully it is not here that He stayed. He pressed on, He fulfilled His mission, He went to the cross and He died and then He rose again. If you find yourself in the garden, if you find yourself crying out to Him with all of your heart you can know that you are not alone. No matter how many have deserted you, no matter how many can't understand what is happening to you, no matter how many have fallen asleep you are not alone. He is with you, He is crying out with you and HE is acquainted with your sorrows. It is here where we say, "Yes Lord", I will follow you even unto death for I know that you are able to raise me up again for Your glory. Jesus wants to meet you in the garden. You will never know the true suffering He suffered, for we have not shed blood but you will know that He understands what is going on with you and He will comfort you.

     No matter how alone you feel He is with you as you kneel and say

"Not my will but thy will be done."

      I give thanks to my Lord that HE has gone before me. That there is nothing I can go through that He has not tasted. He knows my tears, my loneliness and my pain, for He was walked this path before me. He is taking me there to meet Him and to meet the Father and to know the power of His resurrection. I will not stay here forever for He is faithful and HE will raise us up and just as the disciples were filled with joy when He rose from the dead so will our friends return and rejoice with us when they see the Lord show Himself strong in our lives.

     Don't be afraid to go to the garden. It truly is a wonderful place. It is where seeds are planted, covered with dirt, watered and left to grow. We will grow in the place for we will know the fellowship of His sufferings even unto death. Sooner or later that seed springs forth and brings life and so it will be with every trial we go through. We may have to plant the seed in the ground, cover it over and wait for it to grow and in the darkest moment when all hope is lost trust that you will see life spring forth. For here Jesus began to die, and here through Him we all began to live.

Praise the Lord!

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