When it comes to the wire, there is always a choice to make. Will we follow until the end or take another path, an ‘easier’ way?
I don’t know if I can do this…
You can trust me…
Not my will, but Yours be done.
In Gethsemane, Jesus said his soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death†(Matthew 26:36-46). Yet when He prayed it was a final surrender.
I’m often leery to reach out, to give, to love, to show kindness because I don’t know how it will be received, if I will be rejected or accepted or mocked. Jesus looked in the face of unspeakable horror and trusted His Father.
I want to know if my sacrifices are worth it. I want to know that it’s all going to work out. I want to know that people will respond. If I am doing what He’s called me and told me to do, these can’t be the primary concerns.
I want all my questions answered, but there’s only way to resurrection and that’s through the cross. Overcoming comes only by full surrender.
I know what we feel is nothing compared to the weight our Savior felt, but it is real nonetheless. We have the same choice to make. Jesus is our ultimate example of faith, trust, surrender, and overcoming.
The strength of the Great I Am is available to you and me. I choose to reach down to the depths of my being and say again, “Not my will, but Yours be done, Lord. Your word is all the guarantee I need and I will trust You.â€
27 Comments
I think the bravest words we can ever say is “Not my will…yours” Thanks Bro’…I really needed this today!
Jay Cookingham recently posted..Sabbath Rest Musings
Me too, Jay. Thanks for the encouragement as always.
Scary as it may be at times, that is my prayer as well.
Let Your Kingdom come, let Your will be done, Lord!
HisFireFly recently posted..Word Filled Wednesday -- How Beautiful
Yes and yes! Thanks Karin.
Ugh! This hit me right in the gut. I want it to be, “Okay, your will God…but why can’t yours be the same as mine?”
And then I remember that He is God and I am not.
katdish recently posted..The grace of a child
There are so many things that seem difficult to remember. “He is God and I am not” doesn’t seem like it should be one of them, but it is. Thanks Kat.
“I want all my questions answered, but there’s only way to resurrection and that’s through the cross. Overcoming comes only by full surrender.” You are spot on with that. I don’t believe serving is a cake walk. It’s the adventure of a lifetime, regardless of the profession or ministry.
I absolutely love this post!
Scott Couchenour recently posted..9-Inch Choices
I agree “adventure of a lifetime” sums it up. Obedience and mediocrity won’t be found in the same place. Thank you Scott.
Okay, 1. I want to apologize for it taking me forever and a day to visit you. First there was the vacation…and then there was the recovery from the vacation.
2. I love your new website look — embarrassed that it’s probably been live for a while and it’s taken me so long to see it!
3. Powerful words here. I think often about “not my will but yours” — boy do I struggle with that. Will it ever get any easier to relinquish control? Praying that it will.
First off, apology accepted.
And thank you. It’s been this way for just a few weeks (since July 1).
I think the only way it gets easier is to make it a habit. It doesn’t mean we won’t still struggle when the cost gets particularly prohibitive, but we will have laid the groundwork with all the decisions to follow until then. I’m praying with you! Thanks Michelle.
Pain. No one likes it. People try to put off necessary surgeries in order to avoid it. Honestly, I know a man who was so against the idea of surgery, he tried to jump off the table of the emergency room during a heart attack. What stopped him? The doctor shouting “YOU WILL NEVER MAKE IT OUT THE DOOR!”. I suspect he meant the heart attack was so severe, not that the nurses would jump him. He had the surgery, dealt with the pain, healed and is a vital member of our Church today.
I’m not any different in my avoidance of pain, especially at the prospect of something hurting my heart. People can only break your heart if you let them into it. But where is the joy without letting people in?
What am I trying to say? I’m not sure I even know. I’m just thinking that pain avoidance is natural, but sometimes causes more harm than good….
Helen recently posted..Summer Blessings
Absolutely, it’s only natural to avoid pain, but we will miss so much as you said. Besides that, if we genuinely aim to be vessels of God’s love, compassion, and mercy as Jesus fully embodied it, then there is no other option. We endure the cross, scorning its shame, “for the joy set before” us…
Thank you Helen.
Not my will, but yours…
This is a dangerous prayer. It’s dangerous because this is the point when we are letting go of everything and telling God. “Hey, I’m yours.” Very Good stuff broseph.
Michael recently posted..A Letter To You
Totally. It’s a total surrender to God’s goodness. If we know He’s good, we’ll trust Him until the end. We’ll believe the promise and act in faith…
Thanks Michael.
Great post. It reminds me of the book I just finished in the Narnia series, which is one of my favorites, The Silver Chair. Puddleglum, the Marsh-wiggle, reminds everyone that Aslan didn’t tell the little girl what would happen after she obeyed; he just told her to obey. Later, the Prince says that whether they live or die in obedience, Aslan will be their lord. I know it’s a fantasy series about a mystical world and a huge lion, but that’s just truth right there.
Lainie Gallagher recently posted..Pleasantly Disturbed Thursdays
You know, I’ve never read the series before (I know, how can I call myself a Christian, right?) but sounds spot-on to me. Truth is truth for sure. God will show Himself whenever we’re looking! Thanks Lainie.
I have always held a certain fascination with the conversation in the garden. I try to put myself in His shoes. He knew full well what was to come -- the costs and the ramifications -- both immediate and temporal -- physical and spiritual. I can’t honestly say that I could have made the same choice, but so grateful He was able.
Herb Halstead recently posted..givenupontheworld
It was our conversation in the comments section of your post that got me thinking about it (so thank you).
I am with you- glad Jesus made the choice He did--every single day.
I find it hard when God tells me to go somewhere or say something and people are harsh. I don’t want that. I did ask the Lord why do people have to be so mean. I mean the people of the church, not the people outside of the church. Why do they have to manipulate, claim and control? If they do that I withdraw. I can’t talk to them. It hurts. After I asked God why they do that God just said “Their my people too”. I didn’t like that answer. There was a moment I said: “I don’t want to do what You ask me to do” but a second past and I said: “No Lord, You’re will be done not mine”. And it hurts, still. I do ask God what Jesus did in time He was here. He showed me He went to the Father. So when I’m down and people are mean I now go to the Father. It doesn’t mean it makes it easier but at least I share it with Him and after a while it’s not with me anymore it’s with the Father. He takes it over. That is why laughing is a good thing. I laugh a lot and need it to get throug things.
I’m going to print this list out and hang it on my wall. I’m pretty sure I will need this when the going gets tough.
Oh Ani, I know exactly what you mean. You expect to get hurt by those who don’t understand, but it hurts that much more when it comes from brothers and sisters in Christ who should be the most loving.
It helps (a little) to know that I too have been unloving and unkind and sometimes it’s unintentional, but in any case, you give a great insight here: take it to the Father.
He takes our burdens and helps us to carry all He asks us to carry. We can accept that there will always be pain along the way, but that our Father is always there as well. Thank you so much, Ani.
Thanks for your kind words, honesty and encouragement. I guess we are all a bit unkind. I have to remember I’m no better than another person. That is why God says they are His people too. Can’t imagine you were like that. Don’t be like that anymore, okay?
Just to let you know I did print it out and also shared this with two of my mentors (two women). One of them is a pastor herself. Have a great day. It’s late here. Time to go to bed. Bye bye.
Have you been reading my journal. That conversation seems eerily familiar. Things are so much better when I come to place of surrender. Thanks Jason for a thought-provoking post.
Bill (cycleguy) recently posted..A Census & A Price
No, but this is essentially my journal so you are reading mine, Bill.
This is where I am and what I’m pondering. Surrender is a beautiful place to be. Thank you.
Yep, you are right. We are on the same page. And HE is the answer. Full surrender, which I am not there yet. That in itself is pathetic considering I know the saving grace and love of Jesus. Why do I hold back with all He’s done to rescue me?
Thanks for leading me here today. Excellent!
Tiffany Stuart recently posted..My Unbelief
I thought it might encourage you, Tiffany. At least we’re not alone.
I think there is always a struggle. Even though we know He came through last time (and 1,000 times before that), we get caught up in “what if He doesn’t come through this time.” If people say they never struggle with that, I would have tend not to believe them because Jesus Himself wrestled!
Thank you Tiffany. You are a blessing.
The strength of the Great I Am is available to you and me.
AMEN! I needed that reminder today.
Kevin M. recently posted..Why I chose to monetize my blog
It’s good to appreciate that strength! Thanks Kevin.