Missed Opportunities

And Regrets
“Rise . . . let us be going.”
Matthew 26:36-46

They had messed up. At a Moment when Jesus may have needed them most, they had gone. . . to sleep.

How do you process missed “Moments” that you wish you could go back to for a “re-do” . . .
rehearsing it again and again in your mind, thinking about the “what if’s” and “could have been, if I had only . . . “ scenarios of the past. Do you “kick yourself” . . . blame someone else . . . blame circumstances? Do you begin sinking into a sadness that becomes a shadow over your mind and life?

Jesus’ closest friends were with Him in a garden where He liked to spend time talking with His Father. He knew He was hours away from the events that would result in His death. But His dearest friends, at a time when He deeply needed their nearness, had fallen asleep. . . and He had struggled through those dark hours alone.

He did not shame or condemn them for letting Him down when He may have needed them
most. He struggled through His internal Battle alone, with His Father.

We all have our times of knowing that we have disappointed people we love. We have all failed people we love, and our hearts can begin to sink into regret that leads to despair.
But in this Moment when Jesus may have needed His closest friends most, they fell asleep.
Jesus could have shamed them or blamed them. He could have shown His disappointment in them. But their failure did not stop Him from the Purpose . . . pain . . . and deep sorrow that He faced. He struggled through those hours looking to His Father alone. And His commitment to and love for them did not change.

In the days . . . weeks . . . years ahead, His friends continued to follow Him, serve Him, and give their lives for Him.

We can choose to sink into regret and despair over our failures, especially regarding those we love most. But whatever the circumstances and regrets, Jesus stands with us . . . within us . . . stirring us out of our “sleep” and regrets, saying, “Come on . . . come with Me. This Story is not over yet, and I want you with Me. No matter what is ahead, no matter how you have failed Me . . . and as scary as it may feel, I AM With You. . . Always. So, Let’s go!”

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