I discovered something new about strong leaders today. They don’t always express their true feelings about the work they are doing in meetings. In other words, nobody actually exclaims, “I’m panicking!”, “I’m drowning!”, “I’m in over my head!”, or “I’m not sure I can do this.” Nobody actually gives that voice. Today, at a meeting with one of our partners, I was given the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how someone else feels and the steps they take when they are overwhelmed. He was using the exact same internal conversation as I was. Then he clarified that he gives himself a brief period of panic before resolving.

In Matthew 26: 36-46 NIV
Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

While many will concentrate on the error of the disciples who were unable to maintain watch. My attention is on the commitment of the individual (Jesus) who must go and perform the duty for which He was uniquely qualified. We are not just called into ministry to accomplish labor, but God has strategically positioned us even in our jobs to be of help and service because we are the only ones He has intended to carry out that particular assignment. This means that we are predestined to complete the work, we are the most qualified to complete the job at hand, and the cup will not pass from us.

This partner’s confirmation that these emotions were real gave me the confidence I needed to start this devotional. Knowing that someone understood how I was feeling during the workday gave me the drive and inspiration to finish strong.

Everyone has a Gethsemane moment when they must accept the cup that has been brought to them. God has placed this moment and responsibility in your hands, even at work. There is good news! We have a Savior who knows how to transition from sadness and weeping to acceptance and completion.

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 AMP