I believe that we have confused God's will with our will. Or maybe it should be said this way, that our comfort may not always be His will. If more accurately it may need to be said that God's will may often be for our pain, discomfort and suffering. Could that possibly be? We point to many passages of scripture that tell us that God has a plan, a plan for our well being and not our destruction. But there are also many passages of Scripture that remind us that God's will is for us to share in Christ's suffering. Hebrews 5.7-8 speaks of Christ and God's will for Him.
7 During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. 9 After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
Heb 5:7-9 (HCSB)
We must remember as leaders that God's will is not about my personal fulfillment but the fulfillment of His purposes. God's purposes are much greater and go well beyond our personal enjoyment and sense of satisfaction. We must remember that we were not called to the ministry for our personal fulfillment but for His Kingdom's work. Henry Blackaby writes, "the Lord cannot always spare you and your family and complete His redemptive work in those around you."
So what should we take from these thoughts? As we serve Him certainly painful situations may come our way. Certainly pray and ask God to spare us and our families. But ultimately we must pray like Jesus, "but not my will but yours be done."
7 During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. 9 After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
Heb 5:7-9 (HCSB)
We must remember as leaders that God's will is not about my personal fulfillment but the fulfillment of His purposes. God's purposes are much greater and go well beyond our personal enjoyment and sense of satisfaction. We must remember that we were not called to the ministry for our personal fulfillment but for His Kingdom's work. Henry Blackaby writes, "the Lord cannot always spare you and your family and complete His redemptive work in those around you."
So what should we take from these thoughts? As we serve Him certainly painful situations may come our way. Certainly pray and ask God to spare us and our families. But ultimately we must pray like Jesus, "but not my will but yours be done."
