November 13 & 16

Romans 8:31-32
God will use suffering for His glory…sometimes by removing the suffering and sometimes by redeeming the suffering.
When He chooses to not remove suffering, the question shifts from, “How can I get out of this?” to “What can I get out of this?”
Matthew 26:36-46
The crushing of Jesus is what allows our anointing.
Matthew 26:37-38
Jesus feels what we feel.
Matthew 26:39-41, 45-46
Peter’s instinct is to fight against the reality of the situation.
Judas just walks away.
Thomas keeps his expectations low.
The disciples weren’t present in the moment.
Matthew 26:41
Jesus chooses a better way…He feels, asks, and trusts.
The Gethsemane Prayer:

When we bring God our feelings, desires, and trust, He will turn our crushing into communion.
Romans 8:26

Read Matthew 26:36-46 together as a group.
Where are you feeling “the press” right now? A place where life feels heavy, confusing, or disappointing…where it doesn’t feel like God is good.
Which response to suffering do you tend to fall into? Fighting it…running from it…losing hope…or numbing out?
What’s the honest desire underneath your prayers right now? What are you asking God for? What do you wish He would change, fix, or remove?
What does it look like for you to trust God in this part of your story? Not theory…practically. What step of surrender, patience, or dependence is the Spirit inviting you into?

Take time to pray for one another right now…

Feelings: “Father, here’s what I’m carrying.”
Pray honestly about the emotions beneath the surface…fear, frustration, grief, confusion, anger, or exhaustion.
Desires: “Father, here’s what we’re asking for.”
Pray for the real desires of the heart…healing, answers, clarity, peace, change, or courage.
Trust: “Father, not our will but Yours be done.”
Pray for the Spirit to help one another trust God in the press…to stay awake with Him…and to let Him redeem what He hasn’t yet removed.