The Garden Hour
Scripture:
My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me for one hour? - Matthew 26:39-40
In the quiet darkness of Gethsemane, Jesus entered the most anguished hour of His earthly life. His soul was crushed with grief, overwhelmed to the point of death. Fully God, yet fully man, He did not want to face what was coming. He even asked the Father if there was another way. But love — love for the Father and love for us — triumphed over emotion. He surrendered His will and chose obedience over relief.
We too face our own "garden hours" — moments of deep soul-pain when we’d rather run than endure. There are conversations we dread, losses we can’t explain, and callings that weigh heavy on us. Yet we serve a Savior who has felt it all. He knows what it’s like to weep, to sweat under pressure, and to wrestle with the will of God. And just like Jesus, we can find the grace to push through, to choose surrender over escape.
Jesus brought others with Him into His sorrow and asked them to pray — even though they failed. Still, He modeled something profound: we need people to pray with us. And we need to be those people for others. Can we give just one hour? One hour of prayer, one hour of worship, one hour to stand in the gap for those who are suffering?
This is our Garden Hour. Will we stay awake?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for understanding the depths of sorrow and struggle. Thank You for showing us that obedience is possible even when emotions are overwhelming. Help me surrender my will to Yours, and give me the strength to walk through hard things with grace. Teach me to watch and pray — not only for myself, but for others. Let me be faithful in the garden hour. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Action Steps
Set aside 1 hour today to pray — just you and the Lord.
Text or call someone going through a tough season and ask how you can pray for them.
Commit to a weekly hour of intercession, whether at home or at church.
Journal your own “Gethsemane” moments — how has God met you there?
