Luke: Follow Jesus- When The Answer is Presence, Not Rescue

OUTLINE:

• Pray First: Not as An Afterthought (Luke 22:40)
• Asking for Rescue (Luke 22:42)
• His Way Isn’t Always Rescue. It’s Presence (Luke 22:43)
• Pray Last: We Surrender, and We Don’t Numb (Luke 22:42, 46)

QUESTIONS:

1. Pray first. Think about the last hard thing that hit you. 
   1. Did prayer come first, or only after you had already tried to handle it your own way? 
   2. What would "praying first" have changed in you?
2. Asking for rescue. 
   1. Have you ever felt guilty for asking God to just take something away? Where does that guilt stem from?
   2. After hearing that Jesus prayed exactly that, what shifts in how you bring your real wants to God?
3. Holding two truths. 
   1. "I want out" and "I'll still trust You" were both true for Jesus at the same time. 
   2. Which of those two is harder for you to say honestly right now, and why?
4. Strengthening, not removal. 
   1. Where in your life is God currently saying "the cup stays, but I am here"? 
   2. What would it look like to receive His strength as the answer instead of waiting for the rescue?
5. Surrender without numbing. 
   1. When rescue does not come, what is your go-to way to check out or numb? 
   2. Name one specific practice that would help you "stay awake" and keep praying this week instead.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:

Luke 22:39-46

NEXT WEEK:

Luke 22:47-53