Seeing the Good in the Unwanted Cup

So many times in the past year I have prayed – “let this ‘cup’ (trouble) pass from me (or from my brother, my mom, my family, my friends and in recent weeks - our country)” – and I do not believe that the prayer was wrong – for even Christ prayed that very prayer in the garden before His death. However, Christ didn’t end His prayer there, He finished it with “not My will but Yours”.

Through the years, and again in recent days, I have learned to pray that way as well – “not my will but Yours be done”.  It isn’t easy, it’s actually almost daunting to include it, knowing that His will is not often what we would choose for ourselves. To pray this way takes trust; but I have found it not only takes trust but builds it as well. Through a child’s cancer and another born with crippled feet – and many other ‘troubles’ of my own or those of friends and family – I have learned that whether it ends on a mountain top or in “the valley of the shadow of death”, my God can be trusted.

I have learned that trust doesn’t come from knowing the definition of the word (to place confidence in someone or something), it comes from knowing the character and the work of that person or thing. For a believer it comes from knowing the nature, the character and the work of God - which is good and loving and perfect.

I recently worked through a study on Spiritual Growth by Tony Evans and a particular set of Scriptures he used still stands out in my mind as great reminders of why I trust God and am convinced that in these troubles of health crisis and death and sorrows and fears He is working.

Through the “testing” of my FAITH He is working to GROW my “endurance” so that “I will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:3-4

Through these “trials and sorrows” that are a part of life on earth Jesus wants me to find my PEACE in Him – knowing that He has “overcome the world”.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the truth Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 12:9 – that God uses these earthly struggles I have begged Him to take away to STRENGTHEN me with the POWER of Christ Jesus and make known to me His all sufficient GRACE.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  2 Corinthians 12:8-9

As the sorrows and troubles of this world continue, I will, no doubt, still pray for God to heal those who are sick or, in mercy, remove a “cup” from me or others – but – I do so believing He is working all things together for my good and His glory, and thus - trusting His Will over my own - I will pray, not my will but Yours be done.