Comfort in Our Darkest Hour
Bible Reading: Mark 14:32-42
Author: Jocelyn Soriano (Manila, Philippines)
Author: Jocelyn Soriano (Manila, Philippines)
Sunday 16 August 2026 © The Upper Room.
How alone Jesus must have felt on the night before his death!
His disciples couldn’t even stay awake to keep him company in prayer. That night, one of his closest friends betrayed him.
I’ve had my share of times when I felt lost and when I felt a heavy burden deep within me. Finding people who would listen to my cries wasn’t easy. Most people are already overwhelmed with their own burdens and they don’t have energy to share someone else’s.
We have all experienced times of brokenness: broken hearts, lost jobs, failing health, the death of loved ones. In these times, we need all the support we can get. We need friends who will listen without getting tired and family members who will stay with us when we can’t sleep.
Like us, Jesus must have looked for comfort. He must have wanted support from those he loved, but he found no sympathy. Only in the Father did he find strength to carry on. He cried out his deepest fears, knowing that God would not judge him but love and support him all the way. We can do the same.
Prayer: God of all comfort, when we can find no sympathy from the people around us, may we turn our eyes to you, our hope. Amen
