Bible Passage: “And he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.’ And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (Mark 14:34-36 ESV)
Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:19-20
As we approach the middle of our week together, let’s take a moment to recap what we’ve explored so far.
The core idea in this devotional is that a sound mind is one that can experience emotions without being controlled by them.
Yesterday, we learned that the “experiential avoidance” of difficult emotions is what causes and sustains many issues that plague our lives and minds, including addiction.
Today, I want to explore what it means to combat the experiential avoidance that robs men of a sound mind.
In Mark 14:34-36, we see Jesus articulating the depth of sorrow that He felt in anticipation of the Cross. The severity of the pain He felt in the Garden of Gethsemane was overwhelming and traumatic, and He pleaded for the cup of suffering to be removed from Him.
Yet—and this is the key—He submitted to His Father’s will.
He didn’t attempt to numb or avoid His pain despite its magnitude. He faced it head-on, brought it to His Father, and surrendered to His will.
He accepted the cup of suffering that was offered to Him for our sake, and demonstrated, in the most extreme circumstances, true self-control.
Psychologically, acceptance literally means to “take what is offered.” It means we open ourselves fully to the present reality we must face, rather than denying or avoiding it. This acceptance of difficult emotions, like pain, is critical to maintaining a sound mind.
Perhaps this is why “lamenting”—the honest expression of difficult emotions, like grief and sorrow, to God—is such an important biblical discipline, with an entire book in the Old Testament devoted to it.
Ultimately, the acceptance of pain is the pathway to freedom.
True freedom is the freedom to pursue, without hindrance, a life that’s aligned with our deepest values, such as obedience and submission.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray that You would give me the grace to face the pain, hurt, wounds, and suffering that I have been avoiding. I pray that You’d lead me to a place of acceptance of those difficult experiences, and in the acceptance, I would find the freedom to live in obedience to You.
Reflection: What are some pains within your soul that you’ve had a difficult time accepting that actually need to be lamented to the Lord?
Copyright © 2026 Impactus. All rights reserved.
About
