Why Are You Sleeping?

I love going for walks this time of year! I love seeing the trees filled with pretty pink and white blossoms, and smelling their sweet fragrance as I walk past neighbouring parks and gardens. It brings peacefulness and comfort to my soul. I can understand why Jesus went to a garden called Gethsemane to seek consolation there and pray to His Father just before He faced His tortuous death on the Cross. His disciples followed Jesus, but when the Lord asked them to pray, they soon fell asleep from exhaustion and sorrow.

"When He rose from prayer

and went back to the disciples,

He found them asleep,

exhausted from sorrow."

Luke 22:45 (NIV)

.

Jesus woke them up to remind them again to pray more.

"'Why are you sleeping?"

He asked them.

'Get up and pray

so that you will not 

fall into temptation.'"

Luke 22:46 (NIV)

Sometimes we are like those disciples. We get too tired or too depressed that we give up praying out of despair. We go to sleep to temporarily ease our discomfort when continued prayer was vital for victory. It is very important for us to listen to God's voice to know when we have triumphed in prayer for a specific need.