Easter Week Devotional - Could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?

It seemed like a simple ask. To stay watch as Jesus went off to pray. He had become sorrowful and troubled. He confided in them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” He asked them to stay. He asked them to watch. And they fell asleep. Jesus came back from praying and found them like that. “Could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked. But they couldn’t. And they didn’t. He left and came back two more times and found them the same way. Sound asleep. Jesus was about to endure death on the Cross, and the disciples acted like they didn’t have a care in the world. Maybe they didn’t really believe He was going to die. Maybe they thought it wouldn’t happen. Maybe they were just bone tired. But He asked them to stay awake and they didn’t stay awake. They had followed Him. They had left their families and their homes. They had witnessed the miracles. They believed He was the Son of God. They had done the hard things. But when it came to the small. When it came to the easy. When it came to the simple. They didn’t do it. Jesus was about to endure suffering beyond belief, and He found them sleeping. That would never be us, we tell ourselves. We would never do that. Except we do. We can easily spend hours watching movies, scrolling social media, reading books, but spending time with God? We may have 5 minutes. Maybe even 30. But an hour? We can stay up late for football games, or concerts or parties. But get up for Church? We’d rather sleep. It’s not always the hard things that trip us up. It’s not always the obvious obstacles. Sometimes it’s the little things. The ones we don’t think matter. But it all matters. Everything we say. Everything we do. It all matters to God. During this Easter Week, as Jesus heads to the Cross, let us be mindful of what He asks. Let us call to mind what He needs. Let us remember the suffering He endured for us.  And let us have the strength to stand watch for Him

REFLECTION: 

How much time do you spend on social media every day? How much do you spend with God? 

What small things cause you to slip up in your walk with God?

What is God asking you to do today?

PRAYER:

Dear God,

We thank you for this day, for this moment, for this time spent with You. Forgive us, Lord, for falling asleep. Forgive us for not standing watch. We spend so much time on things that don't matter. We are easily distracted. Easily influenced. Easily convinced to choose the world over You. We know we need to change. We know we need to do better. We know You're waiting for us to step into our calling. You stand waiting for us to be who You need us to be. As we continue into this Easter Week, may we reflect on Your suffering. May we remember Your sacrifice. May we see Jesus on the Cross and not continue to live as if His death meant nothing. We pray Lord, for the desire to stay awake. We pray for the determination to stand watch. We pray that when You ask something of us, we do it. When You call, we come running. When you search for hearts that are loyal to You, that You find us. We pray Lord, that You always find us. In Jesus' Name we pray. 

Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk

2026