WEEK 5: THE SUFFERING GOD
March 16-21
SCRIPTURE
“Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Mark 14:32–36
DEVOTIONAL
In the garden, Jesus prays with anguish. He does not pretend strength. He does not suppress sorrow. He brings His full humanity before the Father.
“Take this cup from Me… yet not what I will, but what You will.”
There is honesty in that prayer. There is trembling trust.
Suffering does not disqualify faith. It deepens it. Jesus shows us that obedience does not require emotional detachment. It requires surrender.
Perhaps you are carrying something heavy. A decision that feels costly. A grief that lingers. A fear you cannot dismiss. Gethsemane teaches us that bringing our struggle to God is not weakness. It is discipleship.
This week, sit with the garden. Do not rush past it. Let Jesus teach you how to pray when the path ahead feels unclear.
Surrender is rarely loud. It is often quiet, repeated trust.
FASTING PRACTICE
Fast: Non-Essential Shopping
Consumption can become a quiet escape from discomfort.
When we feel stressed, uncertain, or heavy, we often reach for something tangible - something to purchase, to control, to momentarily improve our mood. For this week, refrain from purchasing non-essential items. Continue buying what is necessary, but avoid impulse spending, browsing, or “treating yourself.”
When the urge arises, pause and ask:
What am I feeling right now?
Is it boredom? Anxiety? Fatigue? Disappointment?
Instead of distracting yourself through consumption, bring that emotion into prayer. Name it honestly before God.
Let fasting expose where you try to soothe yourself instead of surrendering.
REFLECTION PROMPTS
PRAYER
Father,
In Gethsemane, Jesus showed us what trust looks like under pressure. He did not deny the cost. He submitted to Your will. I confess how quickly I look for escape when obedience feels heavy. I confess my desire for control when outcomes feel uncertain. Teach me to pray honestly. Give me courage to name what feels hard without withdrawing from You. Strengthen my trust when I cannot see the full picture.
As I fast this week, reveal where I reach for comfort instead of surrender. Help me bring my desires, my fears, and my resistance into Your presence. Form in me a heart that says, “Not my will, but Yours.” Even when it costs. Even when it stretches. Even when it requires faith I do not yet feel. Keep me close to You as I learn obedience.
Amen
“Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Mark 14:32–36
DEVOTIONAL
In the garden, Jesus prays with anguish. He does not pretend strength. He does not suppress sorrow. He brings His full humanity before the Father.
“Take this cup from Me… yet not what I will, but what You will.”
There is honesty in that prayer. There is trembling trust.
Suffering does not disqualify faith. It deepens it. Jesus shows us that obedience does not require emotional detachment. It requires surrender.
Perhaps you are carrying something heavy. A decision that feels costly. A grief that lingers. A fear you cannot dismiss. Gethsemane teaches us that bringing our struggle to God is not weakness. It is discipleship.
This week, sit with the garden. Do not rush past it. Let Jesus teach you how to pray when the path ahead feels unclear.
Surrender is rarely loud. It is often quiet, repeated trust.
FASTING PRACTICE
Fast: Non-Essential Shopping
Consumption can become a quiet escape from discomfort.
When we feel stressed, uncertain, or heavy, we often reach for something tangible - something to purchase, to control, to momentarily improve our mood. For this week, refrain from purchasing non-essential items. Continue buying what is necessary, but avoid impulse spending, browsing, or “treating yourself.”
When the urge arises, pause and ask:
What am I feeling right now?
Is it boredom? Anxiety? Fatigue? Disappointment?
Instead of distracting yourself through consumption, bring that emotion into prayer. Name it honestly before God.
Let fasting expose where you try to soothe yourself instead of surrendering.
REFLECTION PROMPTS
- What obedience feels costly in my life right now?
- Where am I resisting God’s will because it disrupts my comfort?
- What emotion do I most often avoid bringing into prayer?
PRAYER
Father,
In Gethsemane, Jesus showed us what trust looks like under pressure. He did not deny the cost. He submitted to Your will. I confess how quickly I look for escape when obedience feels heavy. I confess my desire for control when outcomes feel uncertain. Teach me to pray honestly. Give me courage to name what feels hard without withdrawing from You. Strengthen my trust when I cannot see the full picture.
As I fast this week, reveal where I reach for comfort instead of surrender. Help me bring my desires, my fears, and my resistance into Your presence. Form in me a heart that says, “Not my will, but Yours.” Even when it costs. Even when it stretches. Even when it requires faith I do not yet feel. Keep me close to You as I learn obedience.
Amen