Rise, let us be going. —Matthew 26:46
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, “Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore.” If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, “Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing.” In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.
There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing— they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, “Get up, and do the next thing.” If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.
Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.
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Journal DJR
Good morning Lord, I am reminded of Thomas Edison who said, “These are not failures. I have learned 2000 ways how to not make a light bulb” Perseverance and getting on with a happy attitude, unhindered by past mistakes, is the lesson here. But also it’s important to be persevering on the right track (your track.) If we are following your lead thru surrender, connection, curiosity, and obedience as you have been teaching us…. we can get up after an unlimited number of “failures” and move forward. Perseverance by itself, driven by plain human desires can run amuck and then Edison-like perseverance will only make it worse. Adolf Hitler persevered a long distance down the wrong road.
You are right, it is important to learn to hear and see what Father and I and the Holy Spirit have next for you. We give you nudges and signs and tools, but you have to choose. The stories, like you mentioned about Thomas, and the stories I told that got recorded in the Book are helpful. Also the tool of visioning and imagination will help you live in today unencumbered by yesterdays failures. If you will make a vision and invite me into it, I will come. Like for example, what your brother has shared, picturing boxing up your issues and bringing them to the foot of my cross.
I will step into that picture and enrich your life TODAY.
I am also reminded of Hero, my dog who is absolutely sure that today is the best day of his life. He is sure of that every day and every time he sees me coming. I think there is a lesson here. Something about a “dog’s life” at least that part of it. Is not a bad way to live.
So help us leave the past and seize today and receive it as a gift, and together with you, “Get up, and do the next thing.”
Click Image for John White's Original Vision For CO2's
