The Garden of Agony and the Garden of Life
“And being in agony He prayed more fervently” (some translations use the word earnestly), “and His sweat became as great drops of blood falling down to the ground” ~~ Luke 22:44.
“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” A.W. Tozer
I love the story of how Jesus entered into the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed three times in earnest before He cried out “Not My will, Father God, but Yours be done.” According to all four Gospels, there He suffered greatly. But this was not just any garden, this Garden had a purpose and calling not only for His life, but ours.
Can you imagine our Savior in this beautiful place crying out from the depths of His heart for what He was about to go through for you and for me? He was undone by His suffering and wracked by pain. Jesus in the flesh endured till the end knowing that suffering would give us life. What a gift Jesus was giving us!
The Garden
I have been to this beautiful Garden in Israel. I was 21 years old and unsaved at the time. In fact, my heart was far from the Lord. However, as I stood there on that particular day, I was in awe of the beauty around me. I was captivated by what grew there; the flowering plants and olive trees were so different than any other garden I have ever seen, and its landscape was like no other. I remember sensing a great peace. However, before I could fully take everything in, the heavens opened up and there was a great hail storm. What a picture of this garden God gave me on this day — beautiful yet messy! In mere moments the weather pattern shifted from peaceful serenity to a raging hail storm … But isn't life like that sometimes.
Now, fast forward to many years later …. It was then I had an encounter with Jesus Christ. I was undone. My decision came on October 8, 2003, the day after I gave birth to my oldest son, Reid. You see, I had been unfaithful and untrusting, and had, in fact, lived a life that was far from Jesus. Yet, He pursued me, chased me down, and overpowered me that day with His unfailing love. There in a moment, I chose to enter into His garden. I knew that Jesus was my answer; so, I accepted Him, to come in and do His great work in my heart and life. I asked Him to change me. And, He did. My heart was transformed: HE HAD SET ME FREE!
Will you enter into His garden with your whole heart? Bring ALL disappointments, betrayals, unmet expectations, shattered dreams, grief, loss, shame, and guilt to Him. Trust Him that He will meet you there in His Garden with His love. Jesus will forgive you and give you a brand-new life, if you are willing to surrender to the process.
“I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever abides in me and I in them, will produce much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” ~~ John 15:5 (ESV).
Gethsemane
Over the years, I have had many “Gethsemane” moments. Great disappointment has flooded my marriage. I've had unmet expectations. My dreams were shattered; they fell like sand falling through my hands. Times of great sorrow rushed in like the hail that came that day long ago. Sometimes, the grief and loss would be so great, and I would wrestle with Him and want out of this garden. I was undone by betrayal, and brokenhearted by my loss. In these moments of great struggle, Jesus met me there with His kindness, goodness, and everlasting love. He showed me Who He is: that He is a good God: Trustworthy, Provider, Healer, Shepherd, Protector, a Mighty God, and the Great I AM!
Can you relate? I am curious: has your “Gethsemane” been similar? Have you wrestled with the very truths and promises of God? Questioned God’s nature, wondered how this or that could have happened? Have you been angry with God? Thought He was not trustworthy? If I am honest, I have walked through every one of those emotions and thoughts finally coming to the end of myself— Experiencing HIM.
Garden of Life
Though it was a garden of deepest agony for our Lord, I noticed that the Garden also produces life; it is not just a place of agony and sorrow. The Garden breathes healing and restoration into our weary bodies. The Garden feeds our souls with good food and waters our thirsty spirits with His promises of hope, joy, and everlasting life. As He fills us with His Spirit, we begin to see things from His perspective. As we surrender to Him by saying “Not my will but Yours be done,” we become infused by peace and rest. Sure, it is a process that is different for each of us as believers; but for me, through my “Gethsemane” moments the Lord birthed the fruit of the Spirit so I received love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control — in exchange for my bitter heart. They were gifts my Savior gave to me. He will do the same for you.
Today, I don't know what you are holding onto — maybe it is bitterness or sorrow. Betrayal? Shame? Guilt? Unforgiveness? Anger? Grief? Unmet Expectations? Disappointments? or Besetting Sins? Whatever they are, let them all go, and TRUST JESUS with your whole heart!
Today, I want to encourage you to enter into the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus did nearly two thousand years ago; there He prayed three times and finally surrendered to His Father saying “Not My will but Yours be done.”
Allow God access to your heart and soul. Make the choice to be forever changed and transformed — set free to live the resurrected life that He intended for us all — a life of victory, peace, and joy in HIM!
“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit” ~~ Galatians 5:22-23 (TPT).
“But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!” ~~ John 10:10b. (TPT).
~~ Elizabeth Bowman