Read John 12:27
I Can’t Take It Anymore.
I’ve counseled many people who have looked at their circumstances and said, “I can’t take it anymore!” It’s a popular statement when facing utmost inner emotional distress. They want God to deliver them NOW!!!!
In this passage, the hour of Jesus’s death was soon coming and Jesus said, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Should I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No!!! It was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” It was necessary for Jesus to go through what he was about to go through in order to provide salvation for our souls. His obedience would bring glory to God and benefit others.
The Greek word for “troubled” is “tetaraktai,” which signifies an intense, ongoing state of inner disturbance, agitation, or deep emotional horror. This is how Jesus felt as he anticipated the cross.
Jesus understands what it’s like to experience extremely overwhelming and consuming emotional distress. When we are in that state of mind, it’s then that we want it to all end immediately. We pray with great intensity that God would take all the pain away because we can’t take it anymore. I get that, trust me, I do. I think we all get it.
But Jesus knew it was necessary to go through it in order to accomplish God’s purpose. And it’s the same with us. God wants us to go through situations, not because he loves to see us suffer, but because painful situations are used by God to get us where we need to be so we can accomplish his purpose for the kingdom. Instead of praying, “God, take this away!” We should pray, “God, empower me to be able to endure through this pain and overwhelming emotional distress so you can accomplish what needs to be accomplished in and through my life. Be glorified through this.”
What are you going through? I pray for God’s strength so you can endure the pain and reap the benefit of it for God’s glory.
