There are two readings for today.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. [Luke 22:43-44]
Can people who have faith still struggle with doubt, fear, anguish… YES, YES, YES!
Here we find Jesus wrestling with God and His purpose, pleading for an alternative to the way of the cross, supported by an angel from heaven, yet still in anguish.
The intensity of Jesus’ anguish showed itself in the condition of “hematohidrosis”, when the blood vessels around the sweat glands constrict (due to extreme stress) and then dilate to the point of rupture; the blood is released from the body through the sweat glands.
I’ve never been in this much anguish, but I do take some comfort in knowing that Jesus struggled with faith and obedience too.

I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. [Psalm 6:6-7]
David is in a similar time of anguish, maybe he was sweating blood too.
His bed was soaked with tears, his eyes were so blurry he couldn’t see straight.
It seems that he is at the point of death, and is despairing of life itself (Psalm 6:5).
It also reminds me of a time when Paul also struggled with dying.
We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. [2 Corinthians 1:8-9]

God has His reasons for helping us when and how He does.
In Jesus case His answer was strength for today (through the cross) and bright hope for tomorrow (resurrection), and this was for the good of all!
God also has His reasons for allowing David and Paul to suffer as they did.
Paul gives us one reason: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. [2 Corinthians 1:9-10]
Paul learned to not trust in himself or his circumstances, but he could trust in God.
Not only does Paul have his faith and hope strengthened, others are blessed too.
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. [2 Corinthians 1:10-11]
Other people are blessed by Paul’s hardship; since we are reading David’s psalm, this also means that we are blessed through David’s hardship.
And there is no doubt that we have all been blessed by Jesus’ hardship.

We are encouraged to declare boldly with David: The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. [Psalm 6:9]

PRAYER:
Lord, I am not in anguish, but I am fighting doubts and fears. Help me to cling to You!