tears to the one who could save him from death , and he was heard because of this reverent submission . Son though he was , he learned obedience from what he suffered and , once made perfect , he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him …”
Knowing what the following day would hold , Jesus actually asked that the cup be taken from Him . But then quickly followed with “ Not my will but yours be done .” On one hand , God said “ No ” and thank goodness He did ! But we also see Jesus ’ willing obedience . With cries and tears He surrendered to a plan of crucifixion , carrying the massive weight of our sin , and gave His life as a ransom for many .
I remember the first time I really thought about this . God has a more perfect plan ! There may be times when it feels like He is saying “ no ” but really He is saying “ yes ” to a far greater purpose than I can imagine .
I ’ ll be the first to admit , it can be far from easy . More like a wrestling match , right ?
After being in the ring a number of times I can honestly say , “ It is good to wrestle with God . He will win ! And we are changed in the process .”
One of my greatest wrestling matches came during my older son ’ s teen years . We traveled a rocky road with this adopted son that brought us to many hard places . During it , we reopened communication with his birth mother because she had surrendered her life to Christ by this time and would be a wonderful influence ( another amazing story and miracle ). I was fine with the written communication . Phone calls . The visits . But then my husband was sure the best thing for our son was sending him to Colorado to spend a whole semester of school with his birth mother . No way ! I did not want to even consider it . I was his mom !
Finally , I realized I could not live like this and set aside two days to fast and pray . It was a knock out , drag out fight with God . I told God all the reasons I could not send my son to his birth mother . At the end of the second day , our gracious Father used the Prodigal Son story to speak to me . In my heart , I heard Him say , “ Are you really going to stand in the way of my redemption of your son ?” Oh , my ! Never , Lord !
At that point I surrendered to a plan greater than my own . I dried my tears and was able to pack his bags and send him away . ( More to this story too !)
One of my favorite authors is Hannah Whitall Smith who lived in the late 1800s . In her classic book , A Christian ’ s Secret to a Happy Life , she said trials are “ God ’ s chariots sent to take the soul to its high places of triumph .” She encouraged , “ When your trial comes , then , put it right into the will of God , and climb into that will as a child climbs into its mother ’ s arms . The baby carried in the chariot of its mother ’ s arms rides triumphantly through the hardest places , and does not even know they are hard . How much more we who are carried in the chariot of the ‘ arms of God !’”
We can live one of two ways . In the chariot or out . Our own way . Or God ’ s way . When we live God ’ s way we step into the chariot and trust Him to lead and guide us . We start the day asking Him to reveal His plans and purposes . We lay our lives down at His throne as the living sacrifice we ’ ve learned about in Romans . We surrender because God is God and we are not .
Grace Beyond is taking us to that new place . We ’ ve had to trust our Lord in many ways . Just one way has been the encouragement to step out in faith to do Bible studies outside the walls of Calvary Church . Women and men have prayerfully offered opportunities to their neighbors , co-workers , friends , and families , to discover God ’ s Living Word . It is beautiful to watch the prayerful and surrendered willingness similar to Isaiah , “ Here I am , send me !”
We are learning to walk and live like Jesus in a world that desperately needs to know God ’ s love and rescue .
No wonder Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father , “ Your kingdom come , Your will be done , on earth as it is in heaven .” ( Matthew 6:10 )
May we be willing servants , prayerfully surrendering our hearts to His purposes !
By Susan Sorensen Pastoral Staff , Women ’ s Ministry
Susan has been married to Scott for 29 years and they have two sons . As a result of her cancer journey , Susan co-authored Praying Through Cancer , a devotional book that has brought many women to the throne of Grace where they have received courage to face their greatest fears .
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