Prayerful Preparation for Crisis

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 14:32-42

Mark 14:38

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

(ESV)

During the current coronavirus outbreak, the word preparation has come up in the conversation frequently.  When panic mixes with preparation, the result is hoarding and a shortage of needed supplies like toilet paper, water, and cleaning supplies.  However, there is a form of preparation that prepares us for crisis and provides peace when in a crisis.  I am speaking of prayerful preparation for crisis. 

Mark 14:32-42 records the account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In the account we see Jesus taking three of his disciples with him to pray, and the disciples falling asleep.  Jesus has warned the disciples three times of his pending crucifixion with the time now arriving when Judas will betray Jesus (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34).  Jesus desires to pray to his Heavenly Father as his soul is in distress over what is about to occur.  So distressed was Jesus about what was about to occur that Luke 22:43-44 records God sending an angel to comfort Jesus and that His sweat became as drops of blood.  Jesus has brought the three disciples closest to Him for support but Jesus is also providing an example teaching them the importance of connection with the Heavenly Father through prayer in preparation for struggles that come in life.  This is the first step in Godly preparation as the world faces the coronavirus crisis and how we prevent ourselves from going into panic mode.  Some things to remember as we face this crisis,

1)      God knew this was coming, is not surprised, and will use it for the good of His people (Romans 8:28) – People in the middle of a crisis usually do not find comfort in Romans 8:28.  However, this passage is true and tells us that whatever happens in our lives is not a surprise to God and that he has good in store for us after the struggle is over.  A parallel to Romans 8:28 would be Jeremiah 29:11 that reminds us that God’s plans for us are for our welfare and not for evil.  God’s plans have the purpose of giving us a future and hope.   This is true when things are going well, and true when confronting a crisis so there is no need for God’s people to panic.

2)      We do not need to panic for God has prepared a way for us to get through this (Isaiah 41:10) – When facing a crisis, God’s people have the support of God who promises to strengthen us, help us, and uphold us with His righteous hand (Isaiah 41:10).  God has promised to meet all, not just some, of our needs according to His riches in Glory (Philippians 4:19).  One of the most surprising occurrences during the coronavirus crisis has been how quickly the shelves in stores became empty as people hoarded items due to fear they would run out.  The irony is that they made their fears come true due to their panic buying emptying the shelves.  The truth is this crisis, like any crisis people face, will pass so there was no need to panic.  Instead of panic resulting in hoarding, these individuals should have placed their trust in God and bought enough to meet their needs for a couple of weeks, trusting God to make it stretch to meet their needs and for God to end the crisis. 

3)      Surrender in faith to God’s will because this will pass (James 4:7-10) – By trusting God, we are resisting the devil and the fear he brings.  The human side of Jesus could have panicked at the thought of the pain he would experience on the cross the next day and even asked God if there was another way to provide salvation (Mark 14:35).  However, Jesus resists the temptation to bypass the path of the cross and submits to God’s will (Mark 14:36). 

Unfortunately for Peter and the rest of the disciples, they failed to join Jesus in prayer before the crisis of seeing their Lord die on the cross.  Instead of submitting to God and gaining an understanding of what was occurring on the cross, the disciples panicked with Peter denying Jesus out of fear (Matthew 26:69-75).  After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples would realize their fears were unfounded for Jesus overcame death through His resurrection.  This is often our initial reaction in a crisis as we only see what is happening now, without faith and trust in God to see us through instead of panicking out of fear. 

This coronavirus crisis will end as the disease subsides as all viral infections do.  However, panic can cause us to spend money we do not have on items we do not need out of fear, leaving lasting financial repercussions.  Therefore, I urge everyone to remain calm and place their trust in God to meet their needs.  Please join me in prayer as we continue to face this crisis

Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you in the middle of this crisis, knowing you knew this would happen and have a plan to take care of your people through the crisis.  Please help to realize you are with us through the crisis and there is no need to panic.  We submit to your will in our lives, knowing your plans for us are always for our good. 

I want to conclude this posting by reminding us of the blessing the Lord gave to Moses to bless Israel for it applies to everyone during this crisis

Numbers 6:22-26

 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²³ “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

²⁴ The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance^[c] upon you and give you peace.

(ESV)