I often get up at 6am to read my Bible.

I choose that time because there is no one else around and no distractions apart from the allure of sleep. The other morning, I was reading the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as he cries out to his Father. It's just before one of his followers betrays him to the authorities and is eventually killed. 

I was meditating on that passage and imagining actually being there. What did it look like? What did the olive trees feel like to cling to? What did it smell like?

Jesus is in turmoil and sweats blood. He is in the storm of his life. He is facing imminent death. His disciples are asleep and he's amazed and frustrated. Waking them up he says, “Why are you asleep?!” Matt 26: 45

This story is the total flip of Jesus calming the storm. In this story the disciples are crying out, they are in turmoil and distress. This is the storm of their life. They are facing imminent death as the boat is about to go under. Jesus is asleep and the disciples are amazed and frustrated. Waking him up they say, “how can you be asleep?!”  Matt 8: 23-26  Jesus stands up and calms the storm. 

The questions I have been asking, and I invite you to join me, are: 

• When is God active and doing stuff, but I am asleep?
• When am I agitated and striving, but God is peaceful?

I have noticed that when I saturate myself in comforts, I become docile and unaware of what God is doing. When I starve my desires, I remain awake and alert. 

Let’s stay awake to what God is doing. Notice what he is up to and join in. And let’s rest when he is resting. Let’s not strive or force it when he is peaceful. 

Photo Credit: Misael Nevarez