Matthew 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

This is one of the most famous prayers of all time, and certainly one of the most important. We have a lot of trouble distinguishing between fatalism and faith, resignation and acceptance, in ourselves or in others. However, the differences are very real. Jesus was not “resigned to His fate,” He was choosing to accept and follow through with God’s plan of redemption. That is an example every believer needs to follow! It’s not that we aren’t to pray earnestly and in faith, but it is that we are always to leave the reins in God’s hands, trusting that His will is best in the end, regardless of what we go through in the process. We tend to err on one side or the other of that. Some people are fatalistic to the point of not praying. This is the tendency of what is called Hyper Calvinism, where predestination is seen as a strait jacket that we can’t escape from, so why struggle? However, as James said, often we don’t have because we don’t ask. (James 4:2) This is also part of Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, (Luke 15:11-32) where the older brother thought the father was stingy, when he had never asked for what he wanted. The other side of the prayer question is people who essentially demand that God do things their way. They take Jesus’ parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8) for justification, and refuse to accept that God might have something for them that is ultimately better than what they are asking. This is, frankly, a difficult thing, because our vision, understanding and wisdom are so limited. However, like Jesus, we can choose to pray earnestly, yet at the same time trust God to be God, and give Him glory.

I’ve had my moments of struggling with this issue, as I think every believer does. However, I know that in going through such times my faith has been strengthened, and I’m better able to deal with the next thing that comes up. I need to be careful not to give up when answers seem delayed, but trust fully, actively and joyfully, being faithful in prayer and obedience. As a pastor, I am to be a model and an encouragement to the flock. They shouldn’t see me as perfect, or they might give up on themselves. Rather, they should see in me that it is more than possible for God to work in and through flawed human vessels, and receive hope and assurance for their own journey.

Father, thank You for Your amazing grace and mercy. Thank You that Christ indeed took on my human weakness and yet prevailed, as an example as well as our Savior. Help me pray with all fervor and persistence, without insisting that things be my way. Help me lead the flock in faith and obedience, so that we may be and do what You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!