Thy Will Be Done

by Jane Josephs

“Yet not as I will but as You will.” –Matthew 26:39

This summer while on vacation at Mammoth Lakes, a friend shared with me the song, “Thy Will Be Done,” written by Hillary Scott and the Scott Family. In an interview I listened to later on YouTube, Hillary acknowledges that she felt like a “pass through” for a message God wanted people to hear. Her own personal struggle with God’s will is unveiled in her lyrics: “I may never understand that my broken heart is a part of Your plan.”

For me, Hillary’s words are a deeply moving reminder that although we often pray “Thy will be done,” we don’t always mean it. From the time we were little, we’ve been conditioned to do and get things done our way. When circumstances don’t go as planned, we can be quick to enter the blame game.

Early in His ministry Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Many of us say those words daily in private devotions and/or weekly in one of our church worship services. In the garden of Gethsemane, faced with what He knew was coming, Jesus wrestles with His own will before He surrenders himself to God’s plan: “Yet not as I will but as You will.” He knows how hard it is for us to say—and truly mean—those four little words.

Many of us have full rosters of prayer requests. Our friends and family members have health issues, relationship problems, hearts full of grief and sorrow. We pray boldly, convinced God wants to heal and restore that which is broken. And I believe with my whole heart that He does. But as Hillary sings, “Sometimes I gotta stop; Remember that you’re God and I am not…” Healing will happen. It just might not be on my timetable.

Dear Lord, thank You for music that reveals Your heart for us and leads us into a deeper walk with You. Help us surrender our will to Yours, so that Your light shines ever brighter in us to those in need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.