His was in distress.                                                                     His heart was deeply troubled.                                                 The hours between Jesus and the Cross were quickly ticking away.  So he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.  With a troubled heart, Jesus sought the will of the Father.  He prayed for there to be another way to save mankind.

But there wasn’t another way.  The Father’s answer to Jesus’ prayer wasn’t to spare him from the trouble but to give him the gift of peace to face that trouble.  Jesus rose from that place of prayer with a peace that stilled his troubled heart.

No sooner had Jesus finished praying, when a contingent of Roman soldiers and religious guards entered the Garden on a mission to arrest Jesus.  With torches and swords in hand, they were ready for a struggle.  They were prepared to pursue him.  But there was no struggle.  There was no pursuit.  Because when Jesus saw them enter the Garden, he didn’t hide or flee.  To their bewilderment,

“He stepped forward to meet them.  Who are you looking for?” he asked.

“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.

“I AM he, Jesus said.”

Jesus stepped forward to meet them.  He had the strength to face His divine destiny of suffering, because his troubled heart had been calmed by the Father’s gift of divine peace. Perhaps this is why Jesus just hours earlier had instructed His disciples:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. (John 14:1 NLT)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)

The peace Jesus received in the Garden of Gethsemane is the same peace that Jesus promised to give to His disciples – a promise that extends to us, we who are His disciples today!  When our hearts are troubled by . . .

financial distress,

health concerns,

relations gone awry,

broken dreams,

an uncertain future,

we can trust the Lord to give us His gift of divine peace.

We just need to follow the example of Jesus:  to go to our “Garden of Gethsemane” and pray for the will of the Father.  Your “garden” may be a private place in your house, apartment or condo.  It may be at the altar in your church.  Wherever it is, go to your Gethsemane and pray.  The trouble may not change, but He will give you His divine gift of peace – peace that strengthens your faith to face the trouble and allow God to work it for your good.

So, let not your hearts be troubled.  Be encouraged by His promise:  if you trust in Him, His peace – He will give to you.