The Mountain
Sometimes, when we face difficult situations, our minds compare them to certain scenes. These could be scenes from movies we’ve watched, stories we’ve read, or even unique melodies from the language of our hearts.
For example, some may liken a moment in life to a storm, while others may compare life to a poem without rhyme.
Recently, I heard something like this while talking to a friend:
“I know this mountain; I know there are good things beyond it. But right now, I don’t want to climb this mountain. I don’t have the strength to climb it. I don’t want to.”
Although I can’t fully explain all the reasons behind these feelings, I can summarize it like this:
Her entire world had been turned upside down. The life they built, the future he planned for her family, his home—it was all being shattered. Though he trusted God for the future, there was still a long, difficult, and uncertain road ahead. He knew that God had a good plan for them, but she also anticipated the hardships they would face along the way.
As I reflected on this painful story, I couldn’t help but think of a similar scene from the story of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to earth to be crucified, to pay for the sins of all of us on the cross. He knew this. His very purpose in coming was exactly that.
But knowing this didn’t seem to lessen His pain in that moment.
In fact, in the Gospel of Matthew, He expressed His feelings in these words:
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
(Matthew 26:38)
Seeing these two emotions side by side—sorrow and the desire not to be alone—stirred a deep sadness in my heart.
Jesus so openly expressed His need for the support and presence of His disciples.
Before this moment, He had performed great miracles, preached the gospel with great power, and shown Himself to be a strong Savior and leader. But now, as He looked ahead to the painful road before Him, or as He faced the mountain of Golgotha with the cross on His back, His heart was filled with sorrow.
The passage continues:
“Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”
(Matthew 26:39)
Yes, you read that correctly. Even He, when faced with that road, that mountain, didn’t want to climb it and cried out to His heavenly Father about it.
I don’t know what you would do in such a situation, but personally, when I manage to stop complaining, I try to pray. Yet He not only prayed but also asked for the support of His friends. He said, “Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Did He truly need their support? I don’t know, but it was a beautiful example of leadership.
Stay with me…
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow…
I, too, need to learn how to do this.
Perhaps His friends couldn’t stay awake with Him, but another friend came and gave Him the support He needed.
The Gospel of Luke describes it like this:
“He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.”
(Luke 22:41-43)
After being strengthened, He could have said, “I’m ready now, I have the strength.” But instead, He did something even more remarkable:
“And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
(Luke 22:44)
Can you imagine? Even the strength to pray more earnestly was given to Him by God.
There’s another fascinating detail in His journey to Golgotha:
While Jesus struggled under the heavy cross on His way up the mountain, another helper appeared—not out of kindness, but by the compulsion of Roman soldiers: Simon of Cyrene.
“As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”
(Luke 23:26)
Isn’t it amazing how God finds unique ways to send help to His children?
To keep it brief: Prayer is good. When we think, “I wish I could pray more,” an angel comes to strengthen us.
Help arrives in one way or another.
We climb that mountain in the arms of Jesus Christ, who carries us.
Because He climbed that mountain before us. He knows the way well.
With love.