Not My Will...

Today we’re talking about something that’s really easy to say—but a whole lot harder to live out: “Not my will, but Yours, Lord.”

Surrender. Whew! Even saying it makes my planner nervous.

We like control. We like knowing what’s next. But there’s something beautiful that happens when we release the wheel and say, “God, I trust You more than I trust me.”

Luke 22:42 (NLT) — “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Let’s be honest—most of us aren’t great at letting go. Whether it’s a dream, a timeline, or even just what we want for lunch—we like control. It makes me wonder… maybe it’s because when we were little, we were always told to share, but now as adults, we get to choose whether we share. There’s something in that shift—being told vs. choosing.

Either way, releasing control to God is so important. Everything we have is because of Him, so really, it’s all His anyway. And we can learn from Jesus as we try to take hold of that truth.

Jesus, in His hardest moment, said the words we all need to practice: “Not my will, but Yours.”

Surrender doesn’t mean giving up—it means giving in to something better.

Think of it like letting the GPS reroute you after a wrong turn. You can fight it… or trust that it knows the way.

What’s something you’ve been clinging to that God’s been asking you to release?

I remember a time I prayed so hard for something—convinced it was God’s will—until He shut the door, bolted it, and sealed it with duct tape. Later, I saw why.

For me, it was a friendship. I wanted it to continue, but God saw it wasn’t for me. His no was really a “not for you.” It stung—but it saved me.

There’s a saying I’ve seen all over social media: “God’s no is for our protection.” That could very well be true. God sees the path. He knows the plan. We don’t. And that’s why we have to remember—it’s about His will, not our want.

Jesus didn’t want the cross. That’s what makes His prayer so powerful. He was honest—“Take this cup”—but ultimately, He surrendered. That’s not weakness. That’s divine strength.

Think about that. Jesus, in His humanness, was saying, “Nope, I don’t want this. ”But in knowing that it was God’s will, He said, “I don’t wanna—but I’m gonna—because God said to.” Not My Will, But Yours Be Done.

Surrender isn’t always about huge life decisions. Sometimes it’s in the everyday: How we respond to someone. How we trust God’s timing. How we say “yes” when it’s uncomfortable.

Every little surrender builds a bigger faith.

Let’s talk about when God’s will doesn’t look like ours.

Ever prayed for sunshine and got a thunderstorm? Yep. But God’s plans aren’t just different—they’re better, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.

And sometimes God's best gifts are unanswered prayers.

I wanted something deeply a few years ago. When it didn’t happen, I was heartbroken. But later, I saw that God’s no was protection. He saw the full picture—I was only looking through a keyhole.

Luke 22:42 (NLT) — “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

These are big words—ones we’re often scared to say. It means giving up control. It means throwing our hands up and saying, “Okay God, whatever You have for me—that’s what I’ll do.”

Maybe it’s moving, changing jobs, or simply staying right where you are.

When we make choices, it’s important to ask:

“God, where are You in this? What do You have for me here?”

Let me encourage you a bit here… it’s okay to struggle. Jesus did!

He sweated drops of blood. He asked for another way. But He ultimately knew—it had to be this way.

So if you’re torn between what you want and what God is calling you to—don’t beat yourself up. Talk to Him. Be honest. That’s where real relationship grows. That’s where peace and understanding come. That’s where trust is built.

Obedience doesn’t always look like fireworks. It might look like a hard phone call. Turning down a tempting offer. Staying when you want to run.

But those small yeses? They build a life led by God—not by our own whims.

Let’s get practical. How do we actually live this out?

‘Not my will, but Yours’ is a prayer we can carry into every part of our day.

What if the first thing we said every morning was: “God, what do You want for today?” Not out of fear—but out of freedom.

When we surrender the day before it even starts, we walk into it with peace—not pressure.

Luke 22:42 (NLT) — “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

There will be so many moments where we need to check our hearts -

You’re in traffic.

Someone cuts you off.

Your coffee order is wrong.

They’re small—but they can be tiny tests showing whether we’re walking in the flesh or in the Spirit.

Invite God into every moment. Seek His will all day long. That’s where transformation happens.

And if you’re worn out from wrestling with God’s will, I see you. Maybe you’ve been faithful, but it feels like nothing’s happening.

Hold on.

His will doesn’t always move fast—but it never misses. You are seen. And you’re smack in the middle of His story.

“Not my will, but Yours” isn’t a scary prayer, it’s a safe one. It’s saying, “God, I trust that You love me even more than I love myself.”

That kind of surrender leads to joy, peace, and purpose.

So I hope you’ll carry this simple but powerful prayer into the rest of your week:

“Not my will, but Yours, Lord.”

Trust that He’s got you. That His plans are good. And that you’re never alone in the letting go.