Thy Will Be Done

Usually, when praying, I ask that my will be done. I ask that God align His will with mine. I petition the Almighty for all sorts of things. Health, happiness, success, prosperity, goodness, peace. Things I want.

But if we look at the model for prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, we see praise of God first and then asking that His will be done.

In times of great distress and turmoil, I am wont to ask that His will match mine. And yet it is more appropriate that I ask for my will to match His.

I was reminded forcefully of this last night when my wife heard from her father that he has prostate cancer. With all the tsouris already going on in her life, this news sent her over the edge. She was distraught. It's a scary word, cancer. It makes the blood run cold. It makes you worry-immediately. Horrible imaginings come to mind. How can you not be shaken?

And the natural reaction is to pray for his health, to pray for a speedy recovery, to pray that the cancer be removed and he be restored to full health and strength.

All this is well and good. I do not say that we should NOT ask for these things.

But, we should first ask that His will be done. If we would ask anything for ourselves, let us ask that we be given the strength to accept His will. For who knows if it be His will to heal my father in law? I would love it if it were. But if it is not, how deeply disappointed I will be. How angry at God. And why? Because He didn't answer my prayers. He didn't grant my petition.

And yet, and yet, life and death are not in my hands. Who lives and who dies, is not up to me.

If I could be granted the strength to accept His will, whatever happens, and of course I want my father in law to get well, then whatever does happen, I should be ok with.

A hard thing, to be sure.

Let His Name be glorified. Let his kingdom come. Let us learn to accept His will, come what may.