Take This Cup of Suffering Away From Me

Luke 22:42-44:
“Saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not My will, but always Yours be done.’ And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in Spirit. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

In this passage, we see Jesus facing the deepest of human fears—the fear of suffering. Yet, in His prayer, His faith remained stronger than His fear. Jesus chose to surrender to the Father’s will, even though the weight of His mission brought Him great agony. And in His moment of weakness, God sent an angel to strengthen Him.

Just like Jesus, we are not immune to the pains of this world. As long as we live, we will face trials—whether it’s death, sickness, poverty, heartbreak, or other losses. Yet, as Christians, we must not be driven by fear. John 16:33 reminds us: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I am a witness to how faith can carry us through life’s toughest seasons. In 2012, my wife Dinah and I were expecting our first child, Daniella, when I lost my job. Fear set in as I thought of how I would provide for my family, especially with my mother being sick and relying on me. It felt like my world was collapsing. I couldn’t understand why this was happening. I was doing well at work, but suddenly, I was left without a way to support those I loved.

Amidst the chaos, I learned to hold onto my faith instead of letting fear take control. I asked God why, but I also chose to focus on His goodness. Even in my pain, there were moments I was grateful for—moments where God provided for us when we had nothing. One night, after visiting my brother’s house without eating, we cried out to God, and He sent help in ways we didn’t expect. God sustained us, reminding us that His provision never fails.

Looking back, I am filled with gratitude for how God carried us through that difficult time. Psalm 9:10 says: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Even when I was at my lowest, I knew He hadn’t abandoned me. In those dark days, God gave me a song of hope, “Burdens are lifted at Calvary,” which I sang to remind myself of His faithfulness.

Gratitude doesn’t erase our pain, but it shifts our focus from fear to faith. It opens our eyes to see how God is still working in our lives, even when we feel overwhelmed. I held onto this truth: **Isaiah 41:13** tells us, “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

There is a poem by Annie Flint that became a beacon of hope for me during that time, one that speaks of God’s grace and abundant provision:

He Giveth More Grace
—James 4:6_

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Even in your season of suffering, faith and gratitude will see you through. God gives us grace to endure and reasons to be thankful even when life is hard. Sometimes, our trials are opportunities for God to be glorified as we trust in Him to bring us through. Let us choose faith over fear, focusing on God’s provision and goodness, no matter what we face.

Finally, a powerful declaration from Daniel 3:16-18:
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”