In the scene at the garden of Gethsemane, hours before his arrest, Jesus models for us the process of gaining a true perspective.

First, he makes his request known. He shares the honest emotion of his experience. He makes his own perspective known.

It is essential for us to be honest. Truth begets truth. If we are honest about the place we are in, we make room for even more truth to permeate our perspective.

Because the second step to Jesus’ model of obedience is listening for God with an openness that is seeking the highest truth. Jesus seeks comfort through reprieve. He is granted comfort through presence.

Jesus cup was not lifted from him. It often is not lifted for us either. Jesus does not make a demand. He makes a request. And then he opens himself to the will of the Father.

Truth dwells in the will of the Almighty God. He is the home for truth. The arbiter of accuracy. The authority. We cannot discover truth until we come to him and request it.

The reprieve comes in his presence and the inevitable companion: truth. Truth can be hard; it can lead to challenging circumstances and difficult decisions. But there is nothing in the world so beautiful and necessary as a true perspective. And there is no way to it other than in the presence of God.