“Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”
— Luke 22:42 (NLT)
These are among the most powerful words ever spoken. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus—the sinless Son of God, fully God and fully man—faced the full weight of humanity’s sin and the cross that lay before Him. And in that dark hour, He surrendered. Not begrudgingly, but willingly: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
This moment wasn’t just the hinge point of salvation history—it also models for us the daily path of every follower of Jesus.
The Battle of the Wills
All of us, if we’re honest, wrestle with control. We want God’s blessing, but often prefer it on our terms. We have dreams, plans, and preferences. Yet Jesus invites us to lay all of these at the feet of the Father and say, “Not my will.”
Surrender isn’t weakness—it’s worship. It’s not passivity—it’s trust. True surrender comes when we believe God’s will is not only greater than ours, but better than ours. His ways are higher. His timing is wiser. His love is perfect.
Why Surrender Is So Hard
We live in a culture that exalts self-determination and personal freedom. But the way of Jesus is different. It calls us to lose our lives to find them (Luke 9:24), to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23), and to trust God with all our hearts (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Surrender is difficult because it demands two things:
- Humility – acknowledging that God knows better than we do.
- Faith – trusting that even when we don’t understand, He is working for our good.
Jesus wrestled in Gethsemane. He sweat drops of blood. But in the end, He chose surrender. And because He did, we are saved.
What Surrender Looks Like Today
Surrendering your will to God may not mean going to a cross—but it might mean:
- Forgiving someone you’d rather stay angry at.
- Saying yes to a calling that feels beyond your ability.
- Letting go of a plan, relationship, or dream.
- Choosing obedience over convenience.
- Trusting God in suffering, when answers don’t come.
It’s waking up each morning and praying, “Father, not my will, but Yours.”
A Personal Reflection
As someone who has endeavoured to follow the Lord all my life, God has asked me to surrender my will to His many times. The moments of greatest surrender have often led to the greatest times of fruitful ministry in my life. Surrender can be hard, but it’s always worth it.
When we surrender, God works through us in ways beyond what we could ever imagine.
A Daily Prayer
Lord, not my will but Yours be done. I will go where You want me to go, I will say what You want me to say, and I will do what You want me to do. Lord, I love You and I trust You with all my heart.
Final Thought:
Surrender isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a daily lifestyle. It’s a heart posture that says, “God, You lead, I’ll follow.” When we release control, we find peace. When we lay down our will, we discover the richness of His.
Let’s follow the example of Jesus—not just in what He taught, but in how He lived. Surrendered.
