Not My Will but Yours, God.
“He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’”
- Luke 22:41-42
In a battle, when a white flag goes up, it means one side has surrendered to their opposition. They’ve realized that the other side is more powerful, so there’s no use in prolonging the fight and increasing the number of fatalities.
When we decide to surrender to what God wants for us, whether it’s the decision to quit an addiction or to quit partaking in a sin, that’s when we have decided enough is enough. We’re tired of the “fatalities” it has brought in our lives and have finally recognized that God wants better for us.
But what about when surrender doesn’t have to do with a sin? What if it has to do with obeying a challenging call from God? Or what if it has to do with giving up something that’s good?
Whatever the type of surrender, it’s not without an element of pain because it’s more than a compromise; it’s completing throwing up your hands to let go of what you want as an outcome. It requires humility and utter trust in God and His character.
What does surrender look like?
When I turned twenty, I went on a date. From my limited knowledge of him, this Christian guy was everything that I was looking for: same values, similar hopes, courteous, intelligent, and humorous. On my drive home, however, a pit in my stomach formed and Proverbs 14:12 kept repeating in my thoughts– “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” At first, I didn’t want to accept that God was trying to tell me something, but I knew that it would be disobedience if I went on a second date. So, I chose to deny seeing him again. Because I confidently heard the Spirit speak to me through His Word, it actually affirmed God’s love because He was looking out for me. Even though it felt like a loss at the time, surrendering to God in this case wasn’t difficult. So, what does surrender look like? “Not my will but yours, God.”
Recently, one of my friends, who is an overseas missionary, lost her first baby at birth. Before that, it took them four long years to conceive. My heart broke. When I was talking to her about it, she said that she actually felt peace and highlighted her trust that “God is bigger and greater,” and she told me of a song that was playing in her mind. The lyrics go like this:
“God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see his plan
When you can't trace his hand
Trust His Heart.”
Even though she has been able to surrender this tragedy to God, there is still the pain of loss that she and her husband will process. So, what does surrender look like? “Not my will but yours, God.”
With chronic pain or illness, surrender is the name of the game. You cannot fight against what your body is doing to you. For me, the pain of bulging discs and constant flare ups last year kept me wrestling with God. It put much of my life on hold, it made me feel like a burden, and it forced me to miss big events in my friend’s lives. During a flare up, I finally remember having a mind of peace about it. I finally stopped wrestling with God and accepted it for what it was. Surrendering to the limitations of your body means surrendering the life you envision living, which can be painful. But through that, God has used it for good and His purposes. So, what does surrender look like? “Not my will but yours, God.”
God promised Abraham and Sarah that their son, Isaac, would carry on the lineage of many descendants and that through them the nations of the world would be blessed. Yet, God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Despite the fact that they had waited 25 years for Isaac to be born and this command seemed to contradict God’s promise, Abraham began to take action. The story itself doesn’t inform us how he was feeling or if he questioned God, but I can imagine there was an inkling of doubt. As we know, God stopped Abraham before he could harm Isaac and God provided a ram as an offering insead. Despite the pain and confusion of this command, Abraham was surrendered to God. Through this scenario, not only did it testify of Abraham’s faith, but it has served as a profound typology of Jesus, the son of God, being the sacrificial lamb for our sins. So, what does surrender look like? “Not my will but yours, God.”
Finally, the ultimate example of surrender was Jesus willingly dying for us. He yielded to the Father’s plan even though He asked if the cup could be taken away from Him. The pain of being separated from the Father, the pain of rejection, and the physical pain of his murder didn’t stop Jesus from being in full surrender to accepting God’s will. Because of His obedience, it opened the door of salvation to everyone who chooses to believe. So, what does surrender look like? “Not my will but yours, God.”
How do we surrender?
It all starts with knowing and trusting God’s character. If you are doubting who God is, then this can be a big hindrance to being able to surrender. I’ve been in positions (and still working through these thoughts from time to time) where I doubt God’s genuine goodness. Sometimes life can feel like He’s playing a game or that He enjoys seeing us in pain or in lack. But these thoughts are not true. What the Bible says about God is that He is faithful, generous, kind, merciful, love, patient, etc. Surrender starts with knowing what the Bible says about God and trusting His character and love for you.
What is the purpose for surrender?
God wants to test our faith— 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We can’t always see the outcome of surrendering before we do it; therefore, this is a way in which we put our faith in God to the test.
God has something different in mind for us— Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” and Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
God works out His purposes through surrender— Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Even if we think we have control of our lives, His purposes will prevail. It’s just a matter of how tightly or loosely we are holding onto our plans.
Take a Moment:
What are you holding on so tightly to?
What makes you afraid to let go? Is it that you don’t trust God’s plan? Is it that you don’t want to feel uncomfortable?
Maybe you’re in a situation where you have no other choice BUT to surrender, whether it’s the pain of loss, the pain of illness, the pain of loved ones who don’t believe, the pain of financial strain, etc. Have you been able to fully surrender to God and trust what He’s doing even if you can’t see it yet?
Consider adding to your prayers, if not already, “Your will be done, not my own.”
Listen to a song called “Way Maker” and be encouraged by its lyrics. Click here for a YouTube version.
Surrendering to God’s will is what it means to live by faith.
-Alina