NOT MY WILL

Evang. Taiye Ajayi 

One of the most powerful prayers a believer can pray is, to "Lord, let Your will be done." Our minds are too limited to fully understand God's ways. We see only a small part of the picture, but God sees the end from the beginning. Many times, we go through situations we cannot explain, yet in the midst of it all, the greatest prayer we can offer is, "Father, let Your will be done."

Some years ago, I passed through one of the most difficult seasons of my life. It seemed as though the whole world was against me simply because I chose to follow Jesus. I often asked myself, Why the delay? Why is marriage taking so long? Why does it seem that others are moving ahead while I remain in the same place?

People mocked me. Some of my neighbors called me names and spoke hurtful words. One statement I can never forget came from a woman who looked at me and said, "Look at him; he is growing old in his father's house." Those words pierced my heart. There were days I wondered whether God was truly with me. I cried secret tears, and heaven seemed silent.

Some of my friends turned to ungodly means to succeed, and outwardly they appeared to be flourishing. One younger man even bought a brand-new car for his parents, while my own parents questioned why my life seemed stagnant. Yet through every disappointment, I continued to pray, "Lord, not my will, but Yours be done."

At one point, I tried to leave my father's house to start life on my own, but every attempt failed, and I found myself returning home. It seemed as if heaven was quiet. The waiting felt endless. This season lasted for over ten years. I could not understand what God was doing.

Today, I thank God for every one of those waiting years. Looking back, I now realize that God was not delaying me—He was preparing me. He was building my character, strengthening my faith, and shaping me for blessings I was not yet ready to carry.

Sometimes we do not know exactly what to pray. Sometimes words cannot express the pain in our hearts. Life can be confusing, and the future uncertain. But one prayer should always remain on our lips: "Lord, let Your will be done."

What is the will of God?

The will of God is His perfect purpose, desire, wisdom, and plan concerning every area of our lives. After praying for His will to be done, our posture should be one of complete trust. We must believe that God is in control, even when we cannot understand His ways. Faith says, "God is working behind the scenes, and I choose to trust Him."

Our greatest example is Jesus Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, "Not My will, but Yours be done." Though He knew the suffering that awaited Him, He surrendered completely to the Father's will. Jesus trusted His Father because He knew God's love was perfect and His plans were good. That surrender brought salvation to the whole world.

Many people try to understand life through human wisdom, philosophy, astrology, science, or intellectual achievement. While knowledge has its place, none of these can replace the wisdom found in God's Word. The Bible reveals God's will for humanity. The moment we choose to live outside God's Word, we begin walking away from His protection and purpose.

When we make God's will our highest priority, He delights in us and faithfully fulfills His promises. The Scriptures declare that God watches over His Word to perform it. Every time we pray according to His Word, we are praying according to His will.

A Story to Remember

A little boy was walking with his father through a dense forest. As darkness approached, they came to a deep river with no bridge. The father could see a safe path across the shallow part of the river, but the child could not.

The boy looked at the rushing water and said, "Daddy, I don't know the way."

His father smiled and replied, "You don't need to know the way. You only need to hold my hand."

The little boy reached out his hand without hesitation. Step by step, his father led him safely across. When they reached the other side, the boy realized that if he had trusted his own eyes instead of his father's guidance, he would have walked into the deepest part of the river.

Our lives are much like that journey. We often cannot see what God sees. His ways may not make sense today, but His vision is perfect. When we surrender to His will and hold tightly to His hand, He will lead us safely to the destination He has prepared for us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I surrender every plan, dream, desire, and burden into Your hands. Teach me to trust You even when I cannot understand Your ways. Let Your perfect will be done in my life. Give me the grace to wait patiently, obey faithfully, and follow You wholeheartedly. In Jesus' name, Amen.