I think about the many times I have fallen to pieces. In those times, I was never more closer to God. At the end of your rope, if you look up, you will find God there. Every. Time.

I’m grateful for those moments, not for the pain, but what I truly gained in going through it. God still teaches us today, through the pain, because His Son, part of God, suffered, too. Jesus saw His dear friends fall to pieces under pressure of what was happening to Him, but He was still there, still in control, still holding them up even though they couldn’t even hold their eyes open during His prayer for them.

Matthew 26, The Message

Gethsemane
31-32 Then Jesus told them, “Before the night’s over, you’re going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says,

I’ll strike the shepherd;
helter-skelter the sheep will be scattered.
But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”

33 Peter broke in, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.”

34 “Don’t be so sure,” Jesus said. “This very night, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times.”

35 Peter protested, “Even if I had to die with you, I would never deny you.” All the others said the same thing.

36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”

39 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”

40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”

42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”

43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, “Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let’s get going! My betrayer is here.”

When we experience “falling to pieces”, do we dare pray like Jesus prayed…“My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”

REMEMBER…”But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”

I, Your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way…what a glorious thought to begin this day that the Lord has made!

Dear Heavenly Father, Lead the way, Your way.
In Jesus Name, Amen