Not My Will: Finding Freedom in the Grace to Just Be
Have you ever experienced a moment where God speaks, not in a thunderous roar, but in a gentle, mighty whisper from within? It’s the kind of voice that causes both body and soul to physically pause. He drops a single word or sentence into your spirit, leaving you to ponder, recite, and pray for the revelation that He faithfully unpacks over time.
His words are never bound by time or space, and they never return to Him void. But walking in those words requires us to step beyond what our natural eyes can see.
The Crushing and the Surrender
Think of Peter stepping out onto the stormy water. The moment he shifted his focus away from the prize, the waves began to swallow him up. We’ve all had our "Peter moments"—times when we sink under the weight of trying to figure everything out in our own strength.
Even Jesus faced the ultimate moment of weight in Gethsemane—a word that literally means "oil press". To yield oil, there must first be a crushing. In that garden, under the immense pressure of redemption, Jesus felt the physical toll to the point of sweating blood. Yet, He kept His eyes fixed on the ultimate purpose, uttering the words recorded in Luke 22:42:
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
That total surrender shifted history. He completed His gracious mission, and today He sits at the right hand of the Father.
Moving from Striving to Resting
So often, we frantically search for our own might, trying to construct our purpose through human power. But John 6:63 reminds us clearly: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing." We were not called to strive in self-reliance; we were created to be—to flow from the very Life of God’s Spirit living through us.
During a recent conversation, a friend shared her frustration, believing her calling hadn't fully manifested because she was too distracted by her own desires. But in that moment, the Lord brought a holy pause to our conversation with a truth that brought us both to our knees:
The deepest desire of My chosen is to please Me. Take heed that it is the grace of the Almighty God for you to will, to do, and to please. Therefore, pleasing God will also be by God’s amazing grace!
He provides the exact measure of faith, hope, love, patience, and resources needed for every assignment. Our single task is simple: do not give up. The One who began the good work in you is faithful to complete it according to His perfect will.
