Sleep

Luke 22:45When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

46Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

47And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.

The sleep that keeps people from responding to Jesus is not only born from the cares of this life and stupor...it is often from heaviness or Godly sorrow.

At the last supper Jesus told His disciples what to expect. Luke records that they understood enough to be heavy in heart. This sorrow caused them to sleep and not watch and pray:

Luke 22:45When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

46Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

47And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.

I want to understand Jesus' plans with His perspective in mind. At the same moment the disciples were sleeping from sorrow, Jesus was having joy set before Him in His sorrow. He cried out in the same heaviness and received something from the Father, even as His friends were losing joy:

Matthew 26:39 NKJV — He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

The Father didn't change His will, but set joy before Jesus:

Hebrews 12:1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Sorrow can either lead to sleep and checking out from what God is doing, wishing His will would change, or it can be the place where I change and take up faith. Trusting that the morning always follows night and that when I need God the most is when I get the most from Him is where joy is born.

John 16:20“Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

21“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

22“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

Sorrow can lead to something full of joy if I am willing to change my thinking and let God change my emotions:

2 Corinthians 7:10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

11For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

1 Thessalonians 4:13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

This is the way through this hour. So much heaviness and darkness. Put on hope.

When you see all these things look up. Your redemption is near:

Matthew 24:32“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

33“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!

34“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

We are seeing it, friends. Are we learning joy and hope that passes circumstance. Are we intentionally watching and praying and letting joy be set before us? Are we giving up our will and letting the Father conform our hearts to His?