Photo credits: verdissimo.
Every Christian longs to know the will of God for their life. This desire is not misplaced—it is, in fact, what God wants for us: to seek His will concerning our lives and to partner with Him in bringing it to fulfillment.
God’s will is all-encompassing. It includes both the pleasant and the painful seasons of life.
Scripture makes it clear that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and we are also enjoined to get understanding. So, when we seek God’s will—which is wisdom itself—do we seek to further understand what it truly entails?
God’s will is all-encompassing. It includes both the pleasant and the painful seasons of life. It is not limited to the bright moments we have always imagined and prayed for but also embraces those times when we must drink from the cup of His will—the same cup Jesus asked to pass from Him unless it was truly the Father’s will for Him to drink it.
Many of us do not foresee this stage, where we will be given that sacred container to gulp down its bitter contents which can leave unforgettable scars like those on the hands and feet of Jesus.
Those scars may not necessarily be physical. They can be gruesome experiences that imprint indelible scars on our memories.No wonder many believers complain when they encounter the part of God’s will that feels unpleasant. Some attempt to escape from it, only to find themselves in a situation akin to that of Jonah’s in the belly of a whale.
This is where the grace of God comes in. It is an indispensable factor that enables men to joyfully savor the unsavoury part of God’s will.
When I consider the life of Apostle Paul, I see that God often reassures him of His sufficient grace. You wonder why? It’s because he cannot summon the strength to face the bitterness of what is to come.
We will never feel like drinking the bitter content of that cup. Even Jesus prayed, “O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” ( Matt 26:39).He knew that human strength alone cannot handle the full weight of divine purpose—it is too heavy for the natural will to bear.
Paul suffered immensely (2 Corinthians 11:23-27), yet he kept trudging ahead in God’s will because he received God’s sufficient grace. Likewise, Jesus could only face Calvary after the angels had ministered to Him at Gethsemane, strengthening Him for the bitter calvary experiences.
God’s will is a meal of His blessings, spiced with trials and tribulations, and washed down with a drink of Calvary experiences
Therefore, friends, when we pray for God’s will to be done in our lives, let’s understand that a cup of bitter content is reserved for us to drink. We must prepare our hearts to seek God’s grace until He strengthens us to drink it like Jesus affirmed in Mark 10:39 (KJV), “Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized.” In other words, anyone who desires the fullness of God’s will must be willing to partake of the same cup.
Let us not confine God’s will to what feels comfortable. His will stretches far beyond our comfort zones. God’s will is a meal of His blessings, spiced with trials and tribulations, and washed down with a drink of Calvary experiences, as seen in Mark 10:30. But we need not fear how that meal will taste. There is a promise of sweetness after bitterness. The resurrection of Jesus was far greater than His suffering. His victory over death brought triumph to all humanity. Hallelujah!
We must hold firmly to this truth: there is always light at the end of every tunnel. Greater blessings await us beyond the bitter side of God’s will (Matthew 5:11–12). Scripture assures us that “we shall reap in due season, if we faint not.”.
To prevent the unnecessary disappointment certain Christians feel when they reach that difficult point, we must seek God’s grace—the only enabler that allows us to happily drink from that cup.
God foots the bill of His will in our lives
Yes, there are rosy moments in God’s will. There are refreshing and exhilarating experiences in store. But we must remember that a time will come when the tides change. Only God’s grace can help us accept the unattractive part of His will—even when doing it with tears in our eyes, in brokenness, in pain, in loneliness..etc
Just as God strengthened Christ to bear His cross, He has also made His grace available to us through Christ in order for us to bear ours. No matter what bitter experiences we encounter while doing God’s will, we must remember that God’s grace is the currency we spend. It is never on our account. God foots the bill of His will in our lives. If He helped the saints of old, He will surely help us and make us victorious.
To perfectly live out God’s will for our lives, we must abundantly obtain God’s grace.
God bless you!