Have you ever tried to pray and didn’t seem to be able to concentrate on what you needed to say? Maybe you were so tired you fell asleep before you finished, or you were so distraught you could not find the words that seemed adequate to pray. I have been in all of these situations before. However, we are not alone. These are addressed in God’s word. He knows us and will teach us if we study and obey. So, what are your obstacles to prayer? Can you not pray?
In Matthew 26:36-45 we have the account of Jesus praying in the garden just before His arrest. He asks the disciples to pray with Him. He was distraught as He sought the Father for peace about His death. His humanity was in agony as the Godman knew what would happen. His Father would turn His back on Him as He poured out the sins of the world on our Savior. He wanted the disciples to pray with Him, to watch for those who would be coming for Him. Jesus also knew the disciples would have greater trials ahead, and He wanted them to be prepared. He wanted them to watch for the attacks Satan would use to try to stop them from spreading the gospel. Everything was about to change for the entire world.
Matthew 26:36-39 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus had spent an hour in agonizing prayer. Now, He goes to the disciples and finds them asleep. They obviously did not understand what was about to happen. If they had, they could not have fallen asleep. When there is a life-or-death situation concerning someone we love, we usually struggle to sleep. It consumes our thoughts, and all we can do is cry out to God. In verse 40, when Jesus finds them asleep, he asks Peter “ “So, could you not watch with me one hour?” He then tells them to watch and pray with Him. He was in agony, the humanity side of Him desired His friends and followers support. He desired they also know what entering into a prayer relationship with the Father is like. To know Him intimately. He acknowledges the weakness of the flesh; even though the spirit desires to pray, it has yielded to the weakness of the flesh.
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Two more times, Jesus goes to them after a prayer session and finds them sleeping. Jesus knew what His mission was, yet His human side needed the communication and bearing of His soul to the Father. He confirmed His desire by saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” When He had prayed until He was settled in His mind and spirit, He tells them in verse 45, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
Mat 26:42-44 “Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again, he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”
Sometimes, we want to pray or come before the Father and don’t know what to say. Our minds are full of desires, but we are unsure what our petitions should be. These are when the Holy Spirit takes over for us. In Romans 8:26, Paul teaches us that in our weakness, we cannot pray because we don’t know what to pray. “Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” This is such a beautiful picture of God’s love and compassion for us. When we are weak, He is strong. He knows us, loves us, and the Holy Spirit tenderly works on our behalf.
When we are not in a state of mind to pray, yet there are many things we need to pray about, we need to persevere until we know we have reached Heaven. God wants to hear from us. He already knows our hearts, but He longs to meet with us. He wants us to depend on Him. He loves us so much that He desires to fulfill our request above even what we ask. He loves us more than we can comprehend and wants us to love Him back more than anything else in this world. We show that when we desire to spend time alone with Him. We cheat ourselves when we don’t pray. Only God knows what He can do for the one who longs to spend time with Him. The creator and owner of everything desires us.
In Ephesians chapter 3, Paul ends the chapter with a prayer for spiritual strength. I can sense his spirit being overwhelmed as the Holy Spirit reveals what He wants all His children to know. He is able and wants to do much more than we can ever imagine if we pray. So, I ask the question, can you not pray? If the answer is yes don’t give up, keep pushing through until you know that you have been in the presence of God. You will never regret spending time with Him.
Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
