Today’s Reading: Mark 14:35-36
Today’s Reference: 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
Humanly speaking, Jesus didn’t want to die on the Cross. Despite His fears, He still said to His Father, “Not what I will, but what You will.”
Sometimes we have to do the will of God whether we like it or not. We live in a society where “feeling bad” is a sin we must avoid at all costs. But Jesus shows us that’s not God’s way. Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean we’ll be happy all the time. We can be anxious, troubled—like Jesus in Gethsemane, we can be so filled with dread we fall right on our faces in fear. But we must trust God and do the right thing. “Your will, not mine,” can still be our battle cry.
If Jesus had taken the easy way out, you and I would be trapped in our sins forever. There are times you have to say no to your emotions, submit to God’s plan…and simply trust Him for the glad day to come.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the example of Jesus’ submission to You. Help me to distinguish between my feelings and Your will, and give me the strength to choose Your will even when it’s hard.
In Jesus’ name, amen.