Apr 18: Insight Post by David Schleyer
Weekly Reading: Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46
Friday Reflection
Vigilance and Spiritual Strength: Jesus warned His disciples to stay awake and pray to avoid falling into temptation, but they fell asleep. This highlights the importance of spiritual vigilance and the strength that comes from being connected to God through prayer.
Friday Verse
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Friday Questions
How can I stay spiritually vigilant and strengthen my relationship with God to avoid temptation? What practices can I adopt to stay alert in my faith?
Friday Insight Post
by David Schleyer
In Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, we read about the night Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray—just before He was arrested. It’s raw. Heavy. And honestly, it hits differently when life feels uncertain.
Recently, I was laid off from my job. My brain kicked into overdrive: What now? How am I going to figure this out? God, are You even in this?
Let me be clear—I’m not comparing losing my job to what Jesus was facing. He was about to be betrayed, arrested, and brutally crucified. That’s a level of suffering I can’t even imagine. But I do believe the Bible gives us solid ground to stand on by letting us see how people—even Jesus Himself—wrestled through hard moments. Gethsemane gives us a front-row seat to that.
It reminds me…
- It reminds me that Jesus understands anguish and isn’t distant from pain.
- In the garden, Jesus says, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” He didn’t put on a brave face. He didn’t pretend it was all okay. He let His friends see the weight He was carrying. That tells me I don’t have to hide mine either. I can be honest with how I’m really doing—especially with God.
- It reminds me to start with prayer instead of panic.
- When the news hit, I immediately jumped into overthinking mode: job boards, resumes, networking, and overanalyzing what I could’ve done differently. Jesus? His first move was prayer. Not because it magically fixed everything, but because it grounded Him in what mattered most. I’m learning to stop and pray—even if it’s messy or short—before I spin out.
- It reminds me to keep showing up in prayer when I feel pressure.
- Jesus didn’t just pray once—He went back again and again. (Mark 14:39). That persistence speaks to me. Sometimes I expect one prayer to fix everything. But maybe the real growth happens when I keep showing up—even when I’m tired, even when I don’t have the words, even when things seem unfair.
- It reminds me to be honest about what I want, but still leave room for God to lead.
- Jesus asked for a different outcome. “If it’s possible, take this cup from me.” That’s honest. But then He adds, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” I’m trying to follow that pattern—telling God what I’m hoping for, but also staying open to a plan I can’t see yet. That’s not easy. Some days, I nail it. Other days? Not so much.
- It reminds me that vulnerability builds trust.
- There’s this verse in Luke that says Jesus was in such agony while praying, His sweat fell like drops of blood. That’s intense. And it shows me something: vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s where trust begins. I don’t have to have it all together. I just have to be real with God, and trust that He’s still with me in it.
So no, my Gethsemane doesn’t look like Jesus’. But I’ve got my own version—and maybe you do too. These verses aren’t quick fixes or easy answers. But they are reminders. That when the bottom drops out, when the next step isn’t clear, when the weight feels too much to carry—I’m not the first to feel that way.
Jesus didn’t avoid the weight of what He was facing—He brought it to God, honestly and fully. That gives me courage to do the same.
So, here’s the challenge: When our own Gethsemane moment comes—and it will—choose to lean in instead of shutting down. Start with prayer. Start with honesty. That’s where trust grows. Let that moment be the start of something deeper.
David Schleyer
Elementary Small Group Leader
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org