Will You Stand or Fall?

Then and came and found them sleeping. "Simon, are you sleeping?" He asked Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake one hour? Stay awake and pray so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:37,38

Jesus Himself had been tempted, the first time it is mentioned is after he had fasted for 40 days. We know ahe had a habit of withdrawing to a quiet place to pray, perhaps this garden. When you, the one facing a huge situation go to those who were your closest friends and they are asleep or indifferent to your pain, that hurts.

I experienced this back in 2003 when my marriage fell apart. The people in my world, who I thought had my back, had their own agenda not mine and they left me to suffer alone. Considering I was a pastor, this was hard. I had given my life for the church and the people. There was only one who reach out, Hal Oxley, a venerable old man of God. He offered us time out with him, my then husband refused. I did not think to inquire if I might take the offer, it would have done me good.

Yet here was Peter, the one Jesus had told he would fail, failing. Even though Jesus knew he would fail, because He could see the man did not have depth yet, it still hurt Jesus. He was facing death, a horrible death, alone, except for the Father and His angels. To know others have your back is a wonderful comfort.

Peter, like us, was all noise and a millimetre of depth in his faith. He supposed that millimetre would sustain him. He was wrong. Depth is created as we draw aside and spend time with the One who has it to give, in quietness and humility. As we spend time we have His heart, strength and focus. Others need us to be strong and faithful! Amen!