A Prayer for When God Doesn’t Do What I Want

A Prayer for When God Doesn’t Do What I Want
By Rev. Kyle Norman

“Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Have you ever experienced something that you felt was divinely inspired not to take place? Have you ever prayed for God to do something, only to see the opposite occur? It can be hard and frustrating when this happens. When God doesn’t do what we would like our natural inclination is to believe that some sort of judgment is at play. Are we being punished? Did we anger God? Did we not pray enough?

Underneath these thoughts and feelings is the unfortunate belief that somehow, God’s will depends on us. It is as if we assume that God’s will is equivalent to the wants and wishes of our own lives, and we needs simply wrap our self-defined plans in prayer to see them take flight. But this is not how God works. Even Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

While it can be frustrating when God doesn’t do what we want, this actually testifies that the Holy Spirit is present and working. Rather than pointing to a lack of prayer, we see the effective working of our prayers. After all, the congregation above earnestly prayed that their building efforts conform to God’s will and that God be in charge of their future plans. The fact that it turned out contrary to their original planning is immaterial. God answered their prayer! God did take charge; God did lead.

If we truly pray, “thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” we should not be surprised when this prayer is realized! Praying the prayer demands that we lay ourselves before the Lord in raw humility. After all, we want the Spirit to move. We want God to take control. And so when these times come upon us, we are to meet them with rejoicing. Even if God doesn’t do what we want it is still God who is at work in our lives.

Let us pray:

Lord, sometimes I get in my own way. As much as I pray for your will to be done in my life, I know that I often rest upon my own power and strength. I pray to follow your will, but then I set up my own plans and directions, and I follow the wishes and whims of my heart and not yours. But I do pray for your will honestly. I do want your will to be revealed in me and through me. I am sorry, Lord, for the times when I have responded to your will with frustration or annoyance. I am sorry for assuming that your will must conform to my plans. I am sorry for the times when I have failed to rejoice in your will. Father, open my eyes to see the path that you ask me to walk. Open my ears to hear your voice above that of my own desires or wishes. Open my heart to accept your will for my life. And, Father, when I enter those times where you don’t do what I what, may you open my mouth so that I may rejoice that your will is done, and not my own.

 

[Gottenburg]

A Prayer for When God Doesn’t Do What I Want
By Rev. Kyle Norman

Have you ever experienced something that you felt was divinely inspired not to take place? Have you ever prayed for God to do something, only to see the opposite occur? It can be hard and frustrating when this happens. When God doesn’t do what we would like our natural inclination is to believe that some sort of judgment is at play. Are we being punished? Did we anger God? Did we not pray enough?

Underneath these thoughts and feelings is the unfortunate belief that somehow, God’s will depends on us. It is as if we assume that God’s will is equivalent to the wants and wishes of our own lives, and we needs simply wrap our self-defined plans in prayer to see them take flight. But this is not how God works. Even Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

While it can be frustrating when God doesn’t do what we want, this actually testifies that the Holy Spirit is present and working. Rather than pointing to a lack of prayer, we see the effective working of our prayers. After all, the congregation above earnestly prayed that their building efforts conform to God’s will and that God be in charge of their future plans. The fact that it turned out contrary to their original planning is immaterial. God answered their prayer! God did take charge; God did lead.

If we truly pray, “thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” we should not be surprised when this prayer is realized! Praying the prayer demands that we lay ourselves before the Lord in raw humility. After all, we want the Spirit to move. We want God to take control. And so when these times come upon us, we are to meet them with rejoicing. Even if God doesn’t do what we want it is still God who is at work in our lives.

Let us pray:

Lord, sometimes I get in my own way. As much as I pray for your will to be done in my life, I know that I often rest upon my own power and strength. I pray to follow your will, but then I set up my own plans and directions, and I follow the wishes and whims of my heart and not yours. But I do pray for your will honestly. I do want your will to be revealed in me and through me. I am sorry, Lord, for the times when I have responded to your will with frustration or annoyance. I am sorry for assuming that your will must conform to my plans. I am sorry for the times when I have failed to rejoice in your will. Father, open my eyes to see the path that you ask me to walk. Open my ears to hear your voice above that of my own desires or wishes. Open my heart to accept your will for my life. And, Father, when I enter those times where you don’t do what I what, may you open my mouth so that I may rejoice that your will is done, and not my own.

We must wait on the Lord, day and night calling on His name. His will be done in all our prayers. God want us the best for us when we wait on Him.

 

[BrotherHendricks]

Thy will be done o Lord in whatever situation we are in or praying for others to find Gods will in their life.