November 12

Thy Will Be Done

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt — Matt 26:39

Among other lessons which we learn from our Lord’s prayer in Gethsemane is this, that all our crying to God should close in acquiescence to the Divine will. It is right to plead earnestly for what we want, — earnestly, but never unsubmissively. We should recognize the fact that our Father has a plan for our lives, and that what we crave may not be in accordance with His plan. We should never want, therefore, to press our will against God’s will.

There was an ignorant man who wished to pray, but did not know what he needed. Taking the letters of the alphabet, he laid them down and said: “Lord, I do not know what I need, or ought to ask for. Do thou take these letters and arrange them into the prayer I ought to make, and give me that.”

The best thing possible for us is always what God wills for us. Sometimes it may be pain or worldly loss or sore bereavement; yet His will is always love, and in simple acquiescence to this will we shall always find our highest good. No prayer, therefore, is pleasing to God which does not end with this refrain of Gethsemane. This is the way also to peace: as we yield with love and joy, and merge our own will in our Father’s, the peace of God flows like a river into our souls.

“Not as I will!” —the sound grows sweet
Each time my lips the words repeat.”
Not as I will!” —the darkness feels
More safe than light when this thought steals
Like whispered voice to calm and bless
All unrest and all loneliness.
“Not as I will,” because the One
Who loved us first and best has gone
Before us on the road, and still
For us must all his love fulfil— we will
      “Not as we will.”