Prayer In the Wilderness – Luke 22:39-45
Lent provides an opportunity for us to practice drawing closer to God in the midst of suffering and the wilderness. We look to the example of Jesus, who in the moments where suffering is most difficult turned to prayer.
How do we pray in seasons of wilderness or suffering?
First, we learn that Jesus suffered.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. –Isaiah 53:5
Second, we learn Jesus routinely responded to suffering with prayer.
Jesus prayed amidst grief
“10 [King Herod] sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter…12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.” - Matthew 14:10-13
Jesus prayed amidst exhaustion
“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” - John 5:15-16,
“And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.” - Matthew 14:23
“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” - Mark 6:31
Jesus prayed amidst anxiety
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” - Luke 22:39-45
“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives.” - Luke 22:39
In Jesus greatest moment of suffering, he prays because he has practiced it.
Suffering can draw us away from God but it can also draw us closer to him.
Two things to practice during lent:
Abstinence
The Lord’s prayer
“In the end, darkness is not explained; it is defeated. Night is not justified or solved; it is endured until light overcomes it and it is no more. In the meantime, we do not stop asking our questions of God. He allows us to ask them when we need to because he loves us. And we bring our perplexity into the prayers and practices of the church so that they can shape and direct our own questions. Through its prayers, practices, and gathered worship, the church tells us over and over again, “This is what God is like. This is his name. This is how you know he loves you.” - Tish Harrison Ward, Prayer in the Night
