The Agony of Submitting to the Father's Will

“Abba, Father! All things are possible for You; take this cup [of judgment]

away from Me; but not what I will, but what You will.” 

Mark 14:36

After receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer over the phone, [for which I gave my doctor permission to call me] thank God I was not driving, thank God it was the end of the workday, thank God only my manager and I were there because I had an absolute tantrum. I cried and through the many times of hearing my manager crying saying, Denise God got you! It's going to be okay!!! If anybody He has I know He has you!!! You are so faithful!! You have helped me and others many, many times! Please Denise calm down!!! It's going to be alright!!!

And all I could scream from the very depths of my being is “I KNOW HE HAS ME BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS!!!! I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS, PLEASE, PLEASSSE GOD, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO JUST HEAL ME, PLEASSSSEEE GOD I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS!!!!”

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The portrait of Jesus kneeling next to a big rock, in a white robe, hands folded peacefully as in a serene place, with a light shining from heaven does not depict how the scriptures describe His experience.

Mark 14:32-36 AMP says,

“Then they went to a place called Gethsemane ; …. He began to be deeply distressed and troubled [extremely anguished at the prospect of what was to come].

And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved and overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death; ……”

After going a little farther, He fell to the ground [distressed by the weight of His spiritual burden] and began to pray that if it were possible [in the Father's will], the hour [of suffering and death for the sins of mankind] might pass from Him.

He was saying, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You; take this cup [of judgment] away from Me; but not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:32-36

Luke 22:44 AMP says,

“And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.” Luke 22:44

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And thus was my experience, but of course not to the degree of Jesus' experience. Hebrews 12:4 Many shared messages of hope and, unlike the disciples, did not fall asleep on me. (Smile) Mark 14:37 Some said I should follow what Dodie Osteen did. She read and confessed the scriptures daily. But I found that I first I had to call on my Elder Brother, Jesus. He taught me what you experience in your flesh when faced with a serious trial. My dear Elder Brother, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, though fully God He was also fully human, gave me the example to follow.

• He taught me that it is never wrong to express my true feelings to God. Jesus expressed his dread of the coming trials. He knew and understood the suffering he was about to encounter and the horrible experience he would have to endure.

• Jesus taught me that because He took my sins upon him and was forsaken by His Father, I now would never, ever under any circumstances be forsaken by the Father. Matthew 27:46, Hebrews 13:5

• Jesus taught me during my extreme time of distress to remain obedient because my Father has a plan for my life and I can trust our Father and trust my Father's plan. Through his extreme agony, deep anguish, and tremendous sorrow Jesus cried, NLT “Abba, Father,” ....  “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:36 God had a plan and he trusted His Father and His Father's plan.

We all will go through our own Garden of Gethsemane (oil press) experience. One of being pressed in our flesh to do what thus says the Lord. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41 And because of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, even though our flesh is weak, we now possess the same power that raised Him from the dead. We are no longer without strength but have the power to say and do, in our greatest struggles with the flesh, "Not my will but your will be done". Romans 8:11

Although submitting to the Father's Will will cost you something, the rewards far exceed the cost. Because of my Elder Brother's obedience even unto death, I am healed, cancer free and living every day to submit to the Father's will and not my own! Hebrews 12:1-2

God says, "______________, (insert your name) what part of your will are you still holding on to? The cost may be, in your estimation, too much but the rewards are greater and letting go of your will is connected to the rewards waiting in your future.

Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today we join together to say THANK YOU! If we had ten thousand tongues it would not be enough to express our gratitude and LOVE for a loving Father and a loving and obedient Savior!

We thank Him for suffering, bleeding, and dying satisfying the debt for the penality of our sins so that we could live eternally and have life more abundantly.

We shout Hallelujah to the Lamb of God who got up early Sunday morning and now reigns with You! Our Healer! Deliverer! Savior! We love You because You first loved us! For while we were yet in our sins You died for us so that we will never die!

In Jesus name we pray! Amen! Amen! Amen!

(Now make it personal)

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