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Jesus took time off when Hed had enough of people. One of such habits was regularly visiting the Synagogue (Luke 4:16). In, on, among. He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God (Luke 6:12). And the picture we have of Christs habits is not one that is foreign to our world and lives and experience. The church of Jesus Christ lost one of its greatest assets. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.". You are here: Home. This may sound spiritual, but when we consider that Jesus Christ Himself, who surely was needed if anyone was, and whose work was vitally important if anyones was, still made time to get away. Even though Jesus was Gods Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.. He cried out in desperation, quoting from a psalm that told the whole tale of His suffering (see Matthew 27:46). Lukes Gospel tells of one time when Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray (Luke 9:28). There he was transfigured before them. (Mark 9:2), Afterhis brothers had gone up to the feast, then [Jesus] also went up, not publicly but in private. (John 7:10, ESV). These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And yet throughout his recorded ministry, we see evidence of a man utterly captivated by what is written in the text of Scripture. But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. While Jesus prayed for this possibility, he affirmed that if it wasn't possible, he wanted to. First are the workaholics. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular. Mountains were solitary places and Jesus needed a quiet place to pray - to talk to His Father, to commune with Him, to receive strength and guidance from Him. We know he was praying alone because the disciples then asked him, "Lord . He lived a life so intertwined in fellowship with His Heavenly Father that He always knew what God wanted for that day. He didnt despise them (here he puts his desire to retreat on hold) but had compassion on them and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14). Consider each word and how it applies to you. After all, there were times when the crowds were so huge and so demanding that His own mother came to try to take Him home, fearing the strain would be too much for her sensitive and deeply spiritual Son. It is one of the most productive activities in which we will ever engage. He became a spiritual recluse for much of his life, devoting himself to prayer and the writing of poetry and short articles. Martin Luther is said to have declared: I am so busy today that I will have to spend three hours in prayer. It is a good point. Jesus' solitude and silence is a major theme in the Gospels. And He will divide the booty with the strong; Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You. Jesus prayed often. Little short, one-sentence, under-the-breath praises and petitions will have to do. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. When evening came, He was there alone (Matt.14:22-23). Jesus spent all night on the hills in prayer before He chose the Twelve (6:12-16). When He arrived on the Mount of Olives the night of His betrayal, He withdrew about a stones throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed (Lk. Numerous instances are given to show us how indispensable he thought prayer was. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him (Mark 14:21), he said. (Jn 6:11) Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 5000. how many times did jesus withdrew to pray . Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. By Adam / November 14, 2022. Above is a brief music video featuring video clips and pics from our recent mission in Nigeria in Oct/Nov, 2019. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. Of course, Jesus was praying as He was being baptized; it was a special occasion. (He prayed 3 separate prayers. The other type of Christians who rarely retreat to the prayer closet are the playaholics. They treasure their recreation, their leisure, their parties and TV shows and movies and all sorts of amusements which are not evil in themselves but are notorious time-sappers. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. He prayed for wisdom and guidance in His earthly ministry. Its how he made important decisions. But He did it anyway, setting an example for us. On the Sabbath and festivals, a fourth prayer is added (Musaf-). Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do'" ( Luke 10:21 ). "Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! It implies you are involved in some type of activity and you determine to cease that activity and involve yourself elsewhere. No ivory tower for Jesus where He could sit around all day long and reflect upon deep cosmic truths! Jesus wanted some time alone to pray. Mark may be breathless with enthusiasm to share the Good News that Jesus has made the Kingdom of God available to us, but repeatedly he pauses to give us glimpses into Jesus solitude and silence with the Father. He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). He lived by what was written. Amen. A: The Bible tells us in ( 1 Th 5:17) to " pray without ceasing ." While I don't believe this literally means to never stop praying, I would say that Jesus probably came closer to never stopping than any person who has ever lived on this planet. Advertisement. Even as God in human flesh, he prioritized time alone with his Father. Just Between Us exists to encourage and equip women around the world for a life of faith. how many times did jesus withdrew to pray. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? There, He prayed and fasted for 40 days and nights (see Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4), which probably contributed to His success over temptation. In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. To begin let us consider the meaning of the word withdraw. 2. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. And He uttered a prayer of surrender of Himself into the Fathers hands (see Luke 23:46). John 17:1-26. (Lk 24:30) Prayed a blessing on the bread before He ate with others after His resurrection. To withdraw in this context means to draw back or remove yourself from your present situation. And hewent up on the mountain and sat down there. (Matthew 15:29, ESV), Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. Our Lord Jesus to Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta on January 24, 1926 (Vol. What a ministry opportunity he left behind, some might say. For instance, when Jesus took time to pray, he would go to a place by himself and spend considerable time in prayer (Matthew 14.23; Mark 1.35, 6.46; Luke 6.12, 9.18, 11.1). The, the definite article. [Apparently Jesus kept silent for most of the 22-mile hike. The Children of IssacharUnderstood the Times. A day without being refreshed by the Fountain of Living Waters? Do you have a passion to tangibly share encouragement that goes beyond a magazine arriving in a mailbox, or a website packed full of resources, to a life upended by the hope of Jesus? How many times did Jesus pray in Luke? The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. If he was not traveling, he was preaching, and usually more than once a day. He prayed for others to come to know Him as Savior and Lord. Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. May it never be! When I am in my car, when I am at the grocery store, when I am in a crowded auditorium, I talk to God. They may do this, but in reality it is not enough. Jesus told His disciples to "watch and pray" several times. For Christ, the wilderness or desolate place often became his momentarily sacred space. We're going to watch Jesus pray too. (See my book Your Best Life in Jesus Easy Yoke.). In Luke 11:1 we read that he was praying in a certain place. 3)Before a Big Decision They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Breaking busy also means adding in space, time, and energy to take care of yourself. What a day without prayer? Luke 6:12-13 says that Jesus "went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 6:30-32). His habits were not demonstrations of will and sheer discipline. As it was for Him, so it is for us; baptisms, holidays, weddings, funerals, reunions and other special events offer a reminder and an occasion for prayer. (Here is the entire list and where they can be found.) After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. He labored for long hours with little sleep until finally his mind and body began to rebel. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them, He chose twelve whom He also named apostles; "Jesus was always connected to God with everything He did, especially when there were important decisions to be made. (Mt 11:25-26) While speaking to the Jewish leaders. We not only hear one distracting Siren call after another, but an endless cacophony of voices barrages us all at once. Apparently, He considered the time spent in those prayer sessions a worthwhile investment. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. At times, he went away by himself, to be alone (Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:4647; John 6:15). 7:24). New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. In Your Best Life in Jesus Easy YokeI feature Bible studies on how to join Jesus intimacy with his Father to have his peace and power in all we do. He often withdrew early in the morning to be with God, sometimes praying all night. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. In one of the strangest endings to a ministry ever seen in the annals of revival and Christianity, Evan Roberts never really came back. The competition for our attention is ruthless. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. He was often seen in the early hours before sunrise praying and sometimes even spent the entire night in prayer. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him.and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles (Lk. When we pray, we are acknowledging our dependence on God and seeking His help and guidance. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (Lk 11:1) Before teaching His disciples the Lords Prayer. So also Matthew. ), When Jesus heard [that John the Baptist had been beheaded], he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. (Matthew 14:13), Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to [his disciples], Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:31-32), After [Jesus] had dismissed [the crowds], he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Luke 5:16 Verse Concepts But even then, the crowds pursued him. This solitude was a regular habit for him. ), At once the Spirit sent [Jesus] out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. However, its quite the opposite. (Jn 12:27-28) Asking the Father to glorify His name. Matthew 4 says that after his baptism, Christ was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. Instead of peace and joy, so many of us find ourselves swept away in worry, busyness and frustration. As popular as He was, He could have become a far bigger and more popular personality in Israel had He done so, and engaged in a little promotion, as most ministers would have done. Every pastor, ministry leader, and caregiver any disciple of Jesus! Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. (Lk 24:50-53) He blessed the disciples before His Ascension. 7)When in Pain And like Christ, we will do well to make Gods own words, in the Bible, to be the leading edge of our own seeking to draw near to him. Above is, To support SOGM with a monthly recurring donation, click above, Check out our ever-growing list of devotional teachings now available, Schedule an SOGM conference in your church. He was continually in a prayer mode. It seems like such a waste, lying unconscious on a bed, eyes, closed, mouth sometimes open, and totally unaware of everything. Read an excerpt from 365 Days of Prayer now. (Jn 17:1-26) Prayed for Himself, His disciples, and all believers just before heading to Gethsemane. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. To be the best we can be, and the most fruitful we can be, we must follow our Master and learn to withdraw. Below are all of the verses I could find in the Gospels that show Jesus praying. There is no blessing on laziness and little blessing on lazy Christians. He also taught his disciples to do the same (Mark 3:7; Luke 9:10). He took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida Luke 9:10 Introverts, rejoice! Every time we go to bed we withdraw. Pray then like this . Jesus teaches the people out of Peter's ship; shows how he will make them fishers of men; eats with sinners, as being the physician of souls; foretells the fasting and afflictions of the apostles after his ascension; and illustrates the matter by the parable of patches. Glad I could help. Brookfield | WI | 53045, Do you have a passion to tangibly share encouragement that goes beyond a magazine arriving in a mailbox, or a website packed full of resources, to a life upended by the hope of Jesus? But Jesus did just the opposite. The Bible mentions that Jesus "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16 NIV). Surely some of us would have skipped or shortened our private disciplines to rush and bless the swelling masses. Sometimes we hear some people say something like, I dont make set times for prayer, but I pray all the time. So what did He do? Highly recommended: What is a devotional? Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. It might be nice for others who have more leisure time, but they cannot possibly spare their time in prayer of any length. What was written animated his life, and when he withdrew, he went to speak to his Father in prayer. These seven moments when Jesus prayed can help us, as we see that occasions and opportunities for prayer are all around us, wherever we go and whatever we do. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. We withdraw, like Jesus, to a desolate place to commune with God (Mark 1:35), and then return to the bustle of daily tasks and the needs of others. The amazing revivalist Evan Roberts was a man who did not learn that lesson when his ministry was at its zenith. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Expected to ship late September. (Mt 15:36) Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 4000. How many days did Jesus spend in the wilderness? Roberts became a catalyst for revival in Wales in the early twentieth century. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.. Berean Literal Bible And He Himself was withdrawing into the wilderness and praying. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Since Jesus was God incarnate, He didn't need to pray. At times, he went away by himself, to be alone ( Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46-47; John 6:15 ). 4)When Missing Someone Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. With all the crowds that constantly wanted His attention, He could not give Himself to them 24/7 without frequently taking time to isolate Himself and talk to His Heavenly Father. PO Box 2068 On Yom Kippur, a fifth prayer is added (Ne'ila-). He taught on the subject of prayer. The morning prayer can be prayed at any time between dawn and midday. Time with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ is never a luxury nor an option. We dont retreat from lifes busyness and bustle as an end in itself. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. How many time did Jesus pray? Additionally, in Luke 5:16 above, Luke gives us another recognizable routine of Jesus: He withdrew from the people into a solitary place alone and prayed. And this is a good and necessary thing. Let us follow His example. But, generally speaking, prayer is suitable for every occasion. Kneeling in Prayer (22:41) "He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed." (22:41) Matthew and Mark mention that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him, and then moves a bit farther from them, but Luke omits this detail. Why Jesus Prayed Three Times. He had predictable habits. Learn the 2 ways God opens your eyes and 5 things you can do now to facilitate this. Roberts greatest weakness was his white-hot intensity. Youre welcome Daniel. There was certainly a demand for it. So also, in the Gospel of John, Jesus, as his fame spread, retreated from more populated settings to invest in his men in more desolate, less distracting places (John 11:54). His prayer life came natural to him. Our website content is FREE and our print magazine price has not been raised in over 20 years because of the generosity of people like you! Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. Jesus loved His Father and communicated with Him often. One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. Multitudes were saved, Christians were revived and set ablaze, and the churches exploded. No matter what else is going on, they will find time to eat. However, I do not interpret these verses in this way. The first time prayer is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 4:26 (earlier dialogues where initiated directly by God, e.g., Genesis 3:8-13 , Genesis 4:9 ). He is shown to pray: alone (Mt 14:23)(Mk 1:35)(Lk 9:18)(Lk 22:39-41), in public (Jn 11:41-42)(Jn 12:27-30), before meals (Mt 26:26)(Mk 8:6)(Lk 24:30)(Jn 6:11), before important decisions (Lk 6:12-13), before healing (Mk 7:34-35), after healing (Lk 5:16), to do the Fathers will (Mt 26:36-44), among other things. Although he gave himself to prayer throughout his life, he had little desire to preach. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.". He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet He could not keep His presence secret (Mk. What did Jesus do when he withdrew from his father? And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Jesus knew the importance of withdrawing. ], One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. David Mathis is executive editor for desiringGod.org and pastor at. In the healthiest churches, we find a holy conspiracy between pastors who gladly care for the sheep, and sheep who do what they can so that the pastors might serve joyfully. Jesus often withdrew! 3. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. He also taught his disciples to do the same ( Mark 3:7 ; Luke 9:10 ). And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:6). This was as much a part of His life and ministry as healing, teaching, and mentoring His disciples. Jesus prayed repeatedly while in painon the cross. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. The priority of Jesus solitude and silence is everywhere in the Gospels. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. At the very outset of his public ministry, Jesus retreated to the wilderness, and there, in the culminating temptations before the devil himself, he leaned on what is written (Matthew 4:4, 67, 10; Luke 4:4, 8, 10). He simply could not bring himself to take seasons of rest and refreshment. who is the one who condemns? 6)When in Need Some also believe there are verses outside of the Gospels which show that Jesus is still praying (making intercession) on our behalf (Rom 8:34)(Heb 7:25)(Heb 9:24)(1 Jn 2:1), even though He is now in Heaven. (Mk 7:31-37) While healing a deaf and mute man. Ask the Father to help you copy this habit from the Lord to withdraw regularly to be with Him. Our Savior and our Lord was not so busy that He couldnt take time out to withdraw. Jesus invites us to join him in his solitude so we can know God as Abba too and share his love with others. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. I am unaware of any Christian or minister with a desirable relationship with the Lordand Gods tangible power and presencewithout this habit. If you take all of the places that show Jesus praying, you will have a PERFECT outline of how to pray (check out Jn 17). Let the desire grow in your heart to make a habit of spending time with the Father and ask Him to help you do it. Prayer is also a way of showing our love for God. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. The Bible mentions that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16 NIV). While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. ' (Mark 14:32), They crucified [Jesus] Darkness came over the whole land Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Even those of us who are off-the-chart extroverts have our people limits. After Jesus healed a man with leprosy, the Bible tells us: However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. grace@spiritofgrace.org. Jesus had a very limited window of time to be on earth, so he knew he must use every minute wisely. (Mt 26:26) At the Lords Supper. He faced the need to die for the sins of men, He prayed even harder. And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, Who do the people say that I am?, Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, Sit here while I go over there and pray., And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will., He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.. What an amazing opportunity we now have today, with Old and New Testaments in paper and ink (and with us, everywhere we go, on our phones), to daily give ourselves to the word of God. Luke also makes it unmistakable that this pattern of retreat and reentry was part of the ongoing dynamic of Christs human life. He was pushed by people to become their natural king, He ran and withdrew with God in the mist of that temptation. In Mark 6:3132, he invites his men to join him, saying, Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. Mark explains, For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. But even then, the crowds pursued him. . (Matthew 6:913). He probably needed a retreat from the crowds that thronged Him, but we might also wonder if He even missed the kind of heavenly fellowship with the Father that He had enjoyed before taking on human flesh. Jesus, Himself, said that He can do nothing of His own, but only what His Heavenly Father shows Him. How did Jesus do it? When John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus withdrew to Galilee and began his ministry, choosing his disciples at this time. Its how he prepared for important ministry events. All of humanitys problems stem from mans inability to sit quietly in a room alone. Blaise Pascal (16231662). He also took time off after a heavy period of ministry. Before rehearsing Jesuss patterns in retreating for prayer and then reentering for ministry, we should observe the place of Scripture in his life. 4:16) - Jesus incorporated other forms of time off into His life as well. (Lk 22:31-32) Prayed for Peters faith when Satan asked to sift him. He told them that hed be tortured and killed in Jerusalem. 13 When Jesus heard about it, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. Read Luke (MSG) Read Luke 5:16 (MSG) in Parallel. 16 As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer. Last Sunday's sermon was no exception. You might think that this verse occurred before Jesus started His ministry and perhaps had more free time in His day. At last, God granted humanity's longtime desire to see Him, though almost . Ministries This was as much a part of His life and ministry as healing, teaching, and mentoring His disciples. This verse actually comes right after were told that news about Jesus had spread throughout the region and that multitudes of people would come to see Him, to hear Him teach and to receive healing. laying our needs, trivial and otherwise, before God. And yet he boldly proclaimed, My yoke is easy and my burden is light., But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.. (It takes only about an hour and fifteen minutes to read the Gospel of Mark straight through.). "He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." Luke 5:16. 6:12-13). He had experienced some tough times too. If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. 777 Barker Road The choice of the disciples was most likely not an easy task. Jesus consistently kept a habit of regular prayer. Jesus also took time off when He faced an intimidating task. He taught on the subject of prayer. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. A day without the Heavenly Manna? Luke 22:40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, " Pray that you may not enter into temptation.". Jesus solitude and silence is a major theme in the Gospels. Pastors and ministers who serve full-time in ministry positions are especially guilty of this. In this way Mark invites us to join him and be unhurried with Jesus. If He had to do it, how much more us! How many times a day do Jews pray? How Many Times Did Jesus Get Tempted? He probably needed a retreat from the crowds that thronged Him, but we might also wonder if He even missed the kind of heavenly fellowship with the Father that He had enjoyed before taking on human flesh. I'm sure there are more though Jesus Prayed Because God Infused In Him A Spirit Of Prayer Add in time to take care of yourself. And how today might our Father reward us any better than with more of himself through his Son? He prayed for those who were hurting Him (see Luke 23:34). But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. But how many of us, in such a situation, would have the presence of mind, and heart, to discern and prioritize prayer as Jesus did? The Bible tells us that Jesus often went up to the mountain to pray - Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, John 6:15. He gets out the Gospel of Jesus much faster than any of the other Gospel writers. We carve out a season for spiritual respite, in some momentarily sacred space, to feed our souls, enjoying God there in the stillness. Get More Inspiration Delivered to Your Inbox. And we cannot speak concerning specific individual questions of suffering, but the Bible clearly speaks as to why suffering has always been a part of the human experience.