Pray, Reason, Commit

Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save Me from this hour”? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. —John 12: 27-28

Jesus knew the cross was God’s will. Yet as He faced the horrendous ordeal before Him, His heart was troubled. As He waited there in the garden, Jesus did three things that enabled Him to obey.

First, He prayed. What a wonderful example to us, for we too will face times of uncertainty or even fear, times when we need to cry out to the One who cares about all the details of our lives.

**When you are troubled by circumstances that you don’t understand, follow Jesus’ example.

Secondly, He reasoned. He talked it through and reasoned that the painful experience ahead of Him would work out God’s eternal purposes. “For this purpose I came to this hour.” And then thirdly, He committed Himself Himself to obedience. “Father, glorify Your name.” In other words, “I am committed to bringing You glory, Father, regardless of what it costs Me.” Follow Jesus’ example. Pray first. Prayer changes things. Sometimes, the thing that needs changing the most is our attitude. Prayer also gives us the strength to endure a trial and the capacity to accept it.

Next—reason. Realize that God loves you supremely and is working out His eternal plan in your life. His plan may bring temporary discomfort, but it will also bring eternal good. And then thirdly, commit. “Have Your way, Lord. Use my life to bring glory to Your name.”

Father, teach us to follow the example of Jesus when we face uncertain or frightening situations. Remind us to pray, to reason through the problem, and to commit ourselves to bringing You glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.