God's Will, Not Our Own

35And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’  ~ Mark 14:35-36 

We have often heard that we are to pray when things seem hopeless or we are having difficult times.  I have seen many prayers answered shortly after having been lifted up.  Does this mean that we will receive everything we ask for?  No.  If that were so, there would be no jobless, no hunger, no homeless, no poor and on and on.  Then why are we told to pray? 

We pray and lift up our desires, problems and fears to God.  Even though He already knows what we are thinking and feeling, it is our way to communicate to God and have a relationship with Him.  He is our Heavenly Father, and like any parent, He will give us what we ask for IF He feels it is best for us.  Sometimes, what we feel is best for us is not always the case.  God has a much better plan for us.  He may not let you have the sports car you have always desired, because He knows that the temptation to push the limit with it may be too great for you, endangering not only yourself, but others on the road.  He may not heal you of your ailment, no matter how life-threatening it may be, because He has a greater plan for you in the end.  

Jesus knew what was coming in the next day for Him as He pleaded with God to carry out His plan in another way, yet Jesus also yielded to His Father's plan in faith that He would come out of all of the torture and death alive again - becoming the bridge to bring us all to eternal life one day with Him.  Jesus went to the cross knowing that God would overcome whatever He faced at the moment. Three days later, Jesus conquered the grave and now reigns eternally with the Father.  

Are you willing to have the faith it takes to ask God for His will to be done in your life, no matter the sacrifices you may have to make? Can you carry on with whatever God has given you to deal with to fulfill His will in your life if He chooses not to remove what you would like to have removed?  Will your faith in Him continue, even if you must continue to deal with whatever God has chosen for you to deal with here on earth?  Continue to pray, but remember to also end your requests by letting God know that, even though you would like for Him to remove whatever it is that you don't want, to have His will - not your own - be done.  You never know how much you will be blessed in the end, no matter what God's decision may be. 

Prayer 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We know that all things are used by You for good.  Help us to pray with faith in whatever Your decisions about our paths may be, knowing that, in the end, You will bless us for remaining faithful through whatever trials we must face.  Amen.