I just came across Jesus’ night in the garden before his crucifixion. I’ve read it a million times, but found a fresh point of relation to Jesus’ disciples. It’s a wonder I never saw it before.

Jesus had gone off to pray. He warned them to keep alert and pray that they would “fall into temptation”. But it doesn’t happen like that. Luke 22:45-46:

And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

Anyone who has struggled with extended periods of emotional despair or depression knows that there is something inviting and releasing about sleep. Tons and tons of sleep. When I am in times like that I often find myself “sleeping for sorrow”.

But the temptations that accompany sadness are only puffed up by attempting to sleep away our problems.

Of course, like the disciples who know that they should stay awake and pray against their temptation, I too usually give into the easiest, most comfortable solution.

Sleep.