(J.R. Miller, “The Shining Light” 1911)
“Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them: Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36
We see the Master at prayer in Gethsemane. It was here that He prepared for His Cross. We should notice that Jesus’ refuge in His exceeding sorrow, was prayer; and that as the sorrow deepened, the refuge still was prayer. “Being in an agony — He prayed more earnestly.”
Just so, prayer is our only refuge in sorrow.
The lesson from the garden prayer, is that we should take . . .
all the hard things,
the anguishes,
all the insufferable pains,
and all the bitter griefs of our lives
— to God in prayer.
We may be sure, too, that God will answer. If He does not relieve us of the suffering — He will strengthen us so that we can keep it, and still go on trusting and singing!
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms!” Deuteronomy 33:27
“This God is our God for ever and ever! He will be our guide even unto death!” Psalm 48:14