255. He was deeply troubled: His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

1 March 2022

“I am deeply troubled.”

1 Samuel 1

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.”

Mark 14

33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 

34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Here is the parallel verse as to Jesus' extreme anxiety before his crucifixion.

Luke 22

44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

""The gospels tell us he began to sweat blood at this point."

"This is a known medical condition called hematidrosis. It's not very common, but it is associated with a high degree of psychological stress. What happens is that severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result, there's a small amount of bleeding into these glands, and the sweat comes out tinged with blood. We're not talking about a lot of blood; it's just a very, very small amount."

Since he knew the amount of suffering he was going to have to endure, he was quite naturally experiencing a great deal of psychological stress."" - From The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, pages 176-186

"The existence of pain and suffering are powerful accusations against God. 

In the meantime, prominent British pastor John R. W. Stott has reached his own conclusion:

I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross.... In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? 

I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing round his mouth, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world. 

But each time after a while I have had to turn away. And in imagination I have turned instead to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn-pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness.

That is the God for me! He laid aside his immunity to pain.

He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in light of his. There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we boldly stamp another mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering. 'The cross of Christ ... is God's only self-justification in such a world' as ours." - From "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel, page 33.

Before Jesus went through extreme anxiety over his coming crucifixion, he would even comfort his disciples.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. John 14:1, 16 KJV

Now as for us, the mystery is that it is in trouble or suffering that we come upon God's grace.

“A man does not get grace till he comes down to the ground, till he sees he needs grace. When a man stoops to the dust and acknowledges that he needs mercy, then it is that the Lord will give him grace.” ~Dwight L. Moody

That is, the Lord will comfort us in our trouble or suffering.

Shout for joy, you heavens;

    rejoice, you earth;

    burst into song, you mountains!

For the Lord comforts his people

    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13

I went through trouble, shame over not being able to provide for my family especially for the college education of my children. I had severe depression for not having stable employment over a period of about 5 years, having to sell the cars and the house, which fortunately was not foreclosed by the bank.

It was when I came upon God's amazing grace. The Lord provided for the college expenses of my children and He healed me and restored my life. I now look back with a heart of gratitude for the Lord, He saved me from my trouble 18 years ago.

Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior, He worked a miracle in my life.

The Lord has chastened me severely,

    but he has not given me over to death.

I will not die but live,

    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.

You are my God, and I will praise you;

    you are my God, and I will exalt you. Psalm 118:18, 17, 28.

""The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father”"(Romans 8:15). Lord, Abba, Father, You are my refuge, in Jesus' name. Amen.

26 March 2018"

May you be blessed with God's Word.

Maraming salamat.