Praying in Pain

Mark 14:36-40 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
 
JESUS prays in faith, “Abba, everything is possible for you.” We would say, “Daddy, you can do it.” Then he pleads with the Father, “Take this cup from me.” The cup is God’s wrath of judgment on sin. It will be poured over Jesus as he is crucified. Jesus does not want to be “the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29b)
   But governing Jesus’ prayer for his will is his submission to the Father’s will. As a sorrowful servant, Jesus laments for release of his mission to the cross. And then he prays for strength to submit to the cross. Jesus’ primary desire is to remain in union with the Father’s will.   
   Jesus plainly spoke his pain to the Father. There are many places in Scripture that teach us we can be honest with God. One of those is Psalm 88.1-6 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. 2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. 3 For my soul is full of trouble, and my life draws near the grave. 4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength. 5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
   This is one of the few psalms that has no words of praise to God. Is the psalmist blaming God for his darkness? More likely he is expressing the depths of his emotions. Great trouble was in this man’s soul. He wrote a song to express it.
   We can learn through this psalm and Jesus’ prayer that God wants to hear your heart, regardless of the pain in your heart. Our LORD is Lord of heaven and earth. He is far above any criticism or complaint. Always know the LORD is deeply invested in your well-being. Remember, he created you in his image. His will is for you to have a personal relationship with him.
   This means he wants you to be personal with him. You can’t be closely connected with God if you do not speak your deepest needs to him. He does not want you to come to him to say, “All is good, LORD.” when it’s not. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:20b) If you trust him as the God of your life, creator of the universe, you can trust him to hear your cries, even from the darkest depths.
   Also within Jesus’ prayer is an understanding of God’s will in all circumstances. Jesus knew God’s will was the reason for his suffering soon to come. He understood the complete picture of God’s salvation through his incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension and return. Still, he pleaded for the Father to remove the suffering.
   Submitting to God’s will is accepting not my will but yours with a worshipful heart. You understand God knows the complete picture of your life. To be in his will is to be saved unto heaven for your eternal joy with him. As heaven approaches, God’s will for you is to know he is one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:6)
   Yes, the LORD God Almighty is ready and willing to hear your prayers of pain, supplication, thanksgiving and praise. Speak your heart to God. Then be willing to hear him speak to you.