Enabled to Persevere

Jesus prayed fervently (Hebrews 5:7) for the Father to deliver him from the cup of crucifixion. Instead of sending twelve legions of angels to rescue him, he sent one angel to strengthen his endurance (Luke 22:43ms). Likewise, rather than removing hard experiences that can strengthen us like nothing else could, he gives us the power to deal with them. That enablement is not necessarily a supernatural deposit, but a personal presence by which we escape through the pain (1 Corinthians 10:13).

These symbols of his presence enable us to that same end. We don’t go alone, but following him who in such self-giving demonstrated such love.