Finding Comfort in God During Painful Times

 

Summary

In times of deep pain and suffering, it is crucial to reach out to God, just as Jesus did during His most challenging moments. When faced with the Fridays of life, the days filled with pain, we must not only seek comfort from friends but also turn to God through prayer. Jesus exemplified this in Mark 14, where He fell face down and prayed to His Father, expressing His anguish and seeking divine support. The term "Abba," which Jesus used, is an intimate term for "Daddy," highlighting the personal and loving relationship we can have with God. In our moments of distress, we don't need to use elaborate language; instead, we can simply cry out, "Daddy, help," knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us deeply.

Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane provides a model for how we should pray in our times of pain. First, we must affirm God's power, acknowledging that He can do anything. This recognition of God's omnipotence is crucial as it reminds us of His ability to change our circumstances. Second, we should express our desires honestly, even if it means complaining about our current situation. It's okay to tell God that we don't like the pain we're experiencing, just as Jesus did. Lastly, we must offer our trust to God, surrendering our will to His. By saying, "I want your will, not mine," we demonstrate our faith in God's love, wisdom, and control over our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- In moments of deep pain, reach out to God with sincerity and simplicity. Jesus' use of "Abba" shows that we can approach God as a loving Father, without the need for formal language. This intimate relationship allows us to be honest and vulnerable in our prayers. [01:02]

- Affirming God's power is the first step in the Gethsemane prayer model. By acknowledging that God can do anything, we remind ourselves of His omnipotence and ability to change our circumstances. This affirmation strengthens our faith and trust in Him. [02:35]

- It's okay to express our desires and complaints to God. Like Jesus, we can be honest about our pain and discomfort, knowing that God understands and cares for us. This openness fosters a deeper connection with God and allows us to release our burdens. [03:08]

- Offering our trust to God is a crucial part of prayer. By surrendering our will to His, we demonstrate our faith in His love and wisdom. Trusting God's plan, even when it's difficult, brings peace and assurance that He knows what's best for us. [03:35]

- The Gethsemane prayer model teaches us to balance our desires with submission to God's will. While it's natural to want relief from pain, true faith involves trusting God's greater plan and believing that He is in control and loves us unconditionally. [03:48]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Reaching Out to God in Pain
[00:32] - Jesus' Example of Prayer
[00:49] - Understanding "Abba"
[01:02] - Intimacy in Prayer
[01:20] - Simple and Honest Prayers
[01:38] - Jesus' Gethsemane Prayer
[02:00] - Three Key Elements of Prayer
[02:16] - Affirming God's Power
[02:35] - Expressing Our Desires
[02:52] - Complaining to God
[03:08] - Offering Our Trust
[03:22] - Surrendering to God's Will
[03:35] - Trusting God's Plan
[03:48] - God's Love and Control

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Mark 14:32-36
- Psalm 13:1-2

Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 14:32-36, how does Jesus express His relationship with God during His prayer in Gethsemane? What term does He use to address God, and what does it signify? [00:49]
2. What are the three key elements of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane as described in the sermon? [02:00]
3. How does the sermon describe the way Jesus approached God in His moment of deep pain? What does this teach us about the nature of prayer? [01:20]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' use of the term "Abba" reveal about the nature of our relationship with God? How does this affect the way we approach Him in prayer? [01:02]
2. Why is it important to affirm God's power in our prayers, especially during times of suffering? How does this affirmation impact our faith? [02:16]
3. The sermon mentions that it's okay to express our desires and complaints to God. How does this openness affect our relationship with Him? [02:52]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent time of pain or difficulty in your life. How did you approach God in prayer during that time? Did you feel comfortable expressing your true feelings to Him? [03:08]
2. Jesus surrendered His will to God's in His prayer. Is there an area in your life where you struggle to trust God's plan? How can you begin to surrender that area to Him? [03:35]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of simple and honest prayers. How can you incorporate this approach into your daily prayer life? What might change if you do? [01:20]
4. Consider the role of affirming God's power in your prayers. How can this practice strengthen your faith during challenging times? [02:35]
5. Think about a situation where you felt the need to complain to God. How did expressing your true feelings impact your relationship with Him? How can you continue to be open and honest in your prayers? [03:08]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust God's will over your own desires. What steps can you take this week to practice surrendering that area to Him? [03:48]

Devotional

Day 1: Intimacy with God in Prayer
In moments of deep pain, it is essential to reach out to God with sincerity and simplicity. Jesus' use of the term "Abba" in His prayer demonstrates the intimate and personal relationship we can have with God, approaching Him as a loving Father. This intimacy allows us to be honest and vulnerable in our prayers, without the need for formal language. By crying out to God in our distress, we acknowledge His presence and love, trusting that He hears us and cares deeply for our well-being. [01:02]

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to approach God with more honesty and vulnerability, trusting Him as your loving Father?


Day 2: Acknowledging God's Omnipotence
Affirming God's power is the first step in the Gethsemane prayer model. By acknowledging that God can do anything, we remind ourselves of His omnipotence and ability to change our circumstances. This affirmation strengthens our faith and trust in Him, especially during times of pain and uncertainty. Recognizing God's power helps us to shift our focus from our limitations to His limitless capabilities, encouraging us to rely on His strength rather than our own. [02:35]

"Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you remind yourself of God's power in a specific situation you are currently facing, and what steps can you take to trust Him more fully?


Day 3: Honest Expression of Desires
It's okay to express our desires and complaints to God. Like Jesus, we can be honest about our pain and discomfort, knowing that God understands and cares for us. This openness fosters a deeper connection with God and allows us to release our burdens. By sharing our true feelings with God, we invite Him into our struggles and allow His comfort and guidance to fill our hearts. [03:08]

"I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!" (Psalm 142:2-3a, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific burden or complaint you need to bring before God today, and how can you invite Him into that situation?


Day 4: Surrendering to God's Will
Offering our trust to God is a crucial part of prayer. By surrendering our will to His, we demonstrate our faith in His love and wisdom. Trusting God's plan, even when it's difficult, brings peace and assurance that He knows what's best for us. This act of surrender is not about giving up but about aligning our desires with God's greater purpose, believing that His plans are for our ultimate good. [03:35]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it challenging to surrender to God's will, and how can you take a step towards trusting Him more today?


Day 5: Balancing Desires with Submission
The Gethsemane prayer model teaches us to balance our desires with submission to God's will. While it's natural to want relief from pain, true faith involves trusting God's greater plan and believing that He is in control and loves us unconditionally. This balance requires us to hold our desires loosely, allowing God to work in and through us according to His perfect will. [03:48]

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." (Philippians 4:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice balancing your personal desires with submission to God's will in a current situation, and what might that look like in your daily life?

Quotes

"so the second thing you need to do when you're in the Friday's of life the days of pain is you reach out to God you don't just reach out to your friends you also reach out to God and how do you do that you do it by praying this is the other thing that Jesus did right before he faced the worst pain of his life he went and prayed the Bible says this in mark chapter 14 Jesus fell face down on the ground friends I can't tell you the number of times I've done that this last year in pain and in grief he fell face down on the ground and prayed that if possible he would not have to suffer the pain ahead of him he prayed Abba Father" [00:00:00]

"now Abba is the Aramaic word for daddy it's also Swedish rock group but that's not what we're talking about here he's saying Abba ABBA is the first word every little Middle Eastern child learns before any other words it's ABBA Papa dad dad it's any baby can learn to say abba-abba-abba it means daddy and Jesus is saying when you are in your worst day of pain and you need to talk to God about it you don't use fancy language you don't say Oh thou most righteous justice omnipotent creator of the universe who art and you have all of these great theological Terk now you just go daddy help that's what you do you come to guys that daddy help me because your heavenly Father loves you" [00:00:52]

"and so Jesus prays ah but daddy father and here's what he prays I know you can do all things and I don't want to have to drink this cup of suffering nevertheless I want your will not mine to be done now listen closely this is a pattern Jesus prayed three things in his day of deepest pain and when you are in pain these are the three things you need to pray to when you're praying to God when your heart is breaking and you don't know which way to turn three things Jesus prayed I called this the Gethsemane prayer it is a model of how to pray in pain first you affirm God's power and here's what you pray God I know you can do anything" [00:01:42]

"you write that down God I know you can do anything you know I know you'd take away this pain you created the universe if you created the universe you can do anything I know you can do anything you affirm God's power second you express your desire and you say I don't want this pain you said is it okay to complain to God of course it's okay to plain complain to God David did it all the time in the Book of Psalms are called Psalms of lament it's okay to say god this sucks I don't like this this sinks this is terrible I don't like this pain I'm going through right now that's okay to do that Jesus did it if it's okay for Jesus do it it's certainly okay for you to do it" [00:02:35]

"and he said God I don't like to paint him in right now I know you can change it I know you're all powerful and I don't like the pain but then the third thing you do is you offer your trust and you say but I want your will not mine so God if this is not your will I don't want it I want your will not mine I know you love me I know you know what's best for me I know what you know what will make me happy more than I do and I know God that you're in control and there's no way that you don't love me so I want your will not mine" [00:03:22]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?