Matthew 26: 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
We are asking the question again, so that it would resonate in our consciences, even as we ponder the severe conflicts involved in overcoming lust. Here it is: When a Christian man, who may be struggling with lust or porn prays to God for help, does God remove the cravings or does God just give him the strength to resist the cravings?
When Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane, in mortal combat with the powers of darkness, He did hint at the possibility of shrinking from the conflict. But He surrendered His will to God, as all struggling overcomers must do. So, after He had prayed, was overcoming a breeze? Or was He just strengthened to resist?
[The Desire of Ages pp 693] Christ's agony did not cease, but His depression and discouragement left Him. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ's hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father's love. The storm had in nowise abated, but He who was its object was strengthened to meet its fury. A heavenly peace rested upon His bloodstained face. He had borne that which no human being could ever bear; for He had tasted the sufferings of death for every man.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!