There were several tactics in Jesus' strategic battle against despondency. 1st, he chose some close friends to be with him. “He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee”. 2nd, he opened his soul to them. He said to them, “my soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death”. 3rd, he asked for their intercession of partnership in the battle. “Remain here and keep watch with me”. 4th, he poured out his heart to his Father in prayer. “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” 5th, he rested solely in the sovereign wisdom of God. “It not as I will, but as thou wilt”. 6th, he fixes his eyes on the glorious future grace that awaited him on the other side of the cross. “For the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.
When something drops into your life that seems to threaten your future remember this: the first shockwaves of the bomb are not sin. The real danger is yielding to them. Giving in. Putting up no spiritual fight. And the root of that surrender is unbelief–a failure to fight for faith in future grace. A failure to cherish all the God promises to be for us in Jesus.
Jesus shows us another way. Not painless, and not passive. Follow him. Find your trusted spiritual friends. Open your soul to them. Ask them to watch with you and pray. Pour out your soul to the ather. Rest in the sovereign wisdom of God. And fix your eyes on the joy set before you in the process and magnificent promises of God period.
-John Piper; Future Grace
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