On Holy Thursday evening, in the garden of Gethsemane, our Lord Jesus Christ was in unspeakable suffering, knowing full well the pain he was about to endure. Despite this, Jesus prayed, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you; remove this cup from me, not as I will, but as you will" (Mark 14:36).
This prayer of Jesus is an excellent example of how Christians should pray when faced with life's trials, pain, and suffering. It consists of three essential components:
Faith: "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you." Jesus believed and knew that God was his all-powerful and all-knowing Father, and nothing was impossible for Him. Whenever we find ourselves in difficult situations, we must pray with faith, acknowledging that "Heavenly Father, I believe and know that You are all-powerful, and everything is possible for You, and You can change my reality."
Help: Asking for help comes from the confidence of faith. "Take this cup away from me." We should also pray asking for His help: "My God, I am in pain and suffering, and I ask for your assistance. I know that You have the power to change even the most hopeless situation, and I ask You to remove this difficult trial from me."
Obedience: "But not as I will, but as you will." Obedience to God's will is the complement of Christ-like prayer and the goal of our entire life. Our prayer should be like the prayer of Jesus, in the spirit of obedience. "Father, even though I implore you to remove this temptation, not my will but yours be done. I submit completely to Your will."
Friends, let us continue to pray following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, with unquestionable faith that God is our merciful and all-powerful Father. Let us ask for His help and strength in tribulations and trust in His Holy Will, which is good and life-giving.
Regarding such prayer, the Lord Himself promised, "He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation" (Psalm 91:15-16).
