Have you ever heard someone pray who has recently become a believer? They are not used to the usual phrases used by people who have been Christians for years. They pray to God as if they are actually talking to Him. I find that to be refreshing. However, how far can we go in our prayers? Is it okay to express your emotions to God when praying? Is it okay to tell Him what you think should be done? Let’s take a look at the Bible for the answers to these questions.
- What does it say?
Jesus arrived at Gethsemane with them and told the disciples to sit and wait for Him while He prayed in a place farther off. And having taken Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, He began to be sad and distressed. He told them that His soul was very sad even to death but that they should remain there and watch with Him. Having gone forward a bit more, He fell on His face praying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. But not as I want but as You want. He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. So, He said to Peter, “You were not able to watch one hour with me? Watch and pray so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is truly willing, but the flesh is weak.” Having gone away a second time, He prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is not possible that this pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.” When He came back, He found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy. He left them again and prayed the third time the same thing as before. When He returned to the disciples, He said to them, “You are still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come and the Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of sinners. Wake up and let us go! Look, the one who is delivering me has arrived.” - What does it mean?
Jesus expressed His feelings (Matt. 26:37-38)
When Jesus left to pray, He only took Peter, James, and John, the three closest disciples to Him. He told them how He was feeling and then went further to pray. How was Jesus feeling at that moment? He described His feelings as being sad and distressed (37). He was so sad that He felt like dying (38). These emotions may surprise you because Jesus is God. But He was also fully man. So, He had emotions just like we do.
But what was it that made Jesus so distressed? Was it the thought that Judas was right then betraying Him to the religious leaders? Was it the thought that His disciples would all forsake Him? Was it the thought that He would be false accused by the religious leaders? Was it the thought that He would cruelly treated by the Romans? Was it the coming crucifixion? Or was it something more?
While all of these things would have been difficult to handle, perhaps the greatest difficulty was the face that Jesus, the perfect Son of God, was going to be judged for sins He had not committed. The Bible says that God the Father “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus who had never sinned was going to have all the wickedness, ungodliness, and filth of all sinful people put on Him despite the fact that He had never done anything wrong. I believe that this is why Jesus was so distressed. These sins were detestable to Him and He wanted nothing to do with them.
Jesus expressed His desire (Matt. 26:39).
When Jesus prayed, He asked His Father if it was possible that this cup pass from Him. The cup He referred to was the terrible encounter with sin and judgment He was about to face. When He went to the cross and was punished for the sins of the world, it would be like drinking a cup filled with a terribly tasting, filthy drink. With such a terrible thing in store for Him, He asked if it would be possible for the cup to be removed from Him so He wouldn’t have to drink it.
Jesus was expressing His desire. It wasn’t that He didn’t love the world. God by character is love. It wasn’t that He was unwilling to do it. However, it was something that was very difficult. And so, Jesus, even at the last minute, asked if it would be possible for God the Father to change the plan. He asked if it was possible. Could God the Father have changed the plan? While God is all powerful, He cannot change. God had already planned the death of His Son since the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:19-20). So, it was not possible to change the plan at this time. But Jesus still expressed His desire.
Jesus expressed His submission (Matt. 26:39,42,44)
It is interesting to read that Jesus prayed the same thing three times. However, you can notice a subtle shift in thinking from the first to the second prayer. In verse 39, He asked for the cup to be removed but submitted to the Father’s will. In verse 42, He seemed to realize that the cup was not going to be removed and again submitted to the Father’s will. In verse 44, Jesus prayed a third time saying the same thing. These three prayers show us not only His distress about becoming sin, but His submission to the Father’s will.
What did Jesus feel? He felt distressed about becoming sin for the world. Remember how the Father turned His back on the Son and Jesus asked, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” This showed the terrible feelings He had to endure. What did Jesus want? He wanted to be relieved of this horrible duty. He wanted the cup to be removed. What did Jesus resolve to do? He resolved to surrender His will to that of the Father. Although He was distressed and wanted out of the situation, He was willing to do what the Father wanted. - How does it apply?
It is okay to express your feelings.
If you were to search the gospels for how Jesus expressed His emotions, you would find many accounts of Him doing so. He wept over Jerusalem. He was angry at the merchants in the temple. He was frustrated by the lack of understanding of His disciples. In this passage, He showed His emotions as He prayed. This was given as an example for us to follow. God wants us to share our feelings with Him. Note that we need to be careful how we do that. But we should also remember that God already knows what we are thinking and feeling. So, it would be foolish to try to hide our emotions from God as we pray.
It is okay to ask God to remove your distress.
Did you find it interesting or even confusing that Jesus (who is God) asked if it would be possible for the Father to remove the cup of suffering? As God, Jesus knew that His death on the cross was necessary to save us from our sins. But as a man, Jesus also felt the extreme emotions involved with what was about to happen to Him. So, He asked the Father to remove the cup from Him.
Have you ever asked God to remove a terrible situation that you were experiencing? It may have been the results of a sinful choice you made. It may have been something completely out of your control. Whatever it was, you asked God to remove it from your situation. Was that wrong? In light of what Jesus did, I don’t think so. But it is important that we consider one more thing.
It is important to submit to God’s will.
When Jesus asked for the cup to be removed from Him, He also stated His willingness to submit to the Father’s will. He wanted the situation to change but was willing to do whatever God wanted. This is vitally important to understand. Prayer is not primarily a way of getting what you want. Some current preachers have reduced prayer to a way of making your dreams come true. But is that the way Jesus prayed here? No, He willingly submitted His will to whatever the Father wanted. This is what we need to do as well.
Conclusion
When we pray, we have the opportunity to express our feelings and desires. We can do this with fervency (James 5:16) and boldness (Heb. 4:16), but always remember who you are addressing. It is God Almighty who knows what is best, who already has things under control, and who cares about you. So, as you pray, pour out your heart to Him. But always do this with a heart that is yielded to what He decided to do. As you do this, it will give you comfort and peace because God is in control.