Jesus left and made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. He said, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.” Then a heavenly angel appeared to him and strengthened him. He was in anguish and prayed even more earnestly. His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he got up from praying, he went to the disciples. He found them asleep, overcome by grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.” (Luke 22:39-46, CEB)
“if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me.”
Have you ever asked God this? Now remember that in the reading above this is Jesus asking God to not send him to the cross. And Jesus doesn’t ask just once, he asks three times for this one thing. It is not wrong to ask God to change God’s mind. Moses did it, Jesus does it.
But here is where the rubber meets the road. Jesus says after this, “However, not my will but your will must be done.” Do we follow up our requests with this?
You see it isn’t wrong to ask God if something else can happen, as long as we are prepared to follow through with whatever happens. Jesus didn’t want to suffer the physical pain but knew if that was the only way, it was the only way. And we need to be ready to follow through with whatever the will of God is.
So ask for something different, but always be ready to go through whatever comes.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 