And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly … “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:44,46)
Our text gives us a profound glimpse into the intense anguish the Lord Jesus experienced in Gethsemane. His suffering was so great that His sweat became like drops of blood—an agony no one else has ever known, as He faced the weight of sin and separation. Yet in this moment of overwhelming sorrow, Jesus responded with more earnest prayer. This teaches us that anguish doesn’t have to drive us to despair—it can drive us to deeper dependence on God.
Perhaps this is why the Lord allows difficulty in our lives, to lead us closer to Him in prayer. In contrast, the disciples, though deeply sorrowful, responded by sleeping instead of praying. Spiritual vulnerability followed. How often do we do the same? When sorrow weighs heavy, let’s follow our Saviour’s example—not by escaping through sleep or distraction, but by seeking God with all our heart in prayer.
