A Reflection on Psalm 116 from The Living faith:

The psalmist gives thanks to God; He was in deep trouble, close to death; he felt "agony and dread" (v.3). But God rescued him, now he is full of gratitude: "I was helpless, but God saved me" (v.6).

But Jesus was praying this very prayer at the Last Supper. Death was close to him. He was about to go into Gethsemane and pray in agony and dread, knowing that God was NOT going to save him from a harrowing death. Jesus could have prayed Ps. 116 ONLY as a declaration of thanks and deleverance NOT YET experienced - for resurrection from the dead. What a profound trust in God! By it, he turned an otherwise mournful final meal into an eternal expression of thanksgiving.

May we too have the courage and strength to do likewise, in our own "agonies" and "gethsemanies" whatever and wherever they may be....