Part 2 – Embracing the Difficult Times and Things that We Face

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called “THY WILL BE DONE”.

Part 1 did not really finish the thought the Lord impressed upon me when I’ve written Part 2.

We need to embrace Paul’s words about “death worketh in us, but life in you.” since that is His will for us. Suffering and glory are inextricably linked.

17 if so be that we suffer with him [Christ in us], [so] that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:17 (KJV)

12 If we suffer, we shall also Reign With Him: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning]: 2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV)

Thus, Paul also wrote:

10 Always bearing about in the [our] body the dying of the Lord Jesus, [so] that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, [so] that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you [in others]. 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 (KJV)

When we say “Thy will be done” in the face of something we do not want to endure it liberates His life in our daily living… so that His life is manifested to others through us.

Life always comes out of death just as we see at the Cross of Christ. There could not be a resurrection life that reaches and touches us until there first there is His death.

45 the last Adam [Jesus] was made [became] a quickening [life-giving] spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45 (KJV)

Thus, Paul has set the pattern that he received of the Lord’s life.

Now let’s consider Christ who in the Garden of Gethsemane said the same words in a different context “THY WILL BE DONE.”

The following text as recorded in Matthew’s recount the happenings in the Garden of Gethsemane just after Jesus crossed over the Kidron valley. The Kidron valley was a wadi or wash that flowed with the blood of thousands of innocent lambs slaughtered at the Temple in Jerusalem in order to … “cover (not take away) the sins of the people of Israel. Knowing this, Jesus likely considered how that likewise His blood would soon begin to flow to actually take away the sins of the world[1Jn. 2:2, John 1:29, 3:16) … so that all men and women who will believe would then have His eternal resurrection life.

Read this and consider Jesus’ soul suffering even before the Cross.

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane [the garden on the side of the Mount of Olives], and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he [Jesus] unto them, My Soul is Exceeding Sorrowful, even unto Death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, If It Be Possible, Let This Cup [of the sins of the whole world that we laid upon Him] Pass From Me: Nevertheless Not As I Will, But As Thou Wilt.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42 He [Jesus] went away again the SECOND TIME, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if [since] this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the THIRD TIME, saying the same words [as the 2nd time].

45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he [Judas with Israel’s Religious Temple Guard] is at hand that doth betray me. Matthew 26:36-46 (KJV)

Thus, we have the account of Jesus soul suffering at Gethsemane, even sweating drops of blood in the garden.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44 (KJV)

When He rose from praying the Third Time, embracing the Father’s will, it was finished in His mind – He was as good as dead.

We may take note of the fact that Jesus prayed essentially the same thing three times. We could read the exact wording and see how that Jesus at first seemed to have vacillated until the “Third Time” He prayed. Then it is clear that in His anguished soul the deal was done. He then only wanted the Father’s “will.” For the Cross for Jesus was in full accord with the Father’s will and His eternal purpose that was entirely wrapped up in the Cross of Jesus Christ,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he [the Father] purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Ephesians 3:11 (KJV)

Thus, we can see how that Jesus in His humanity was ‘tempted in all ways as we are.’

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin [sinning]. Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

We therefore can take heart and not condemn ourselves for vacillating at times before we fully yield to the Father’s will for us. In Heb. 4:15 above, God says Jesus never sinned, so we can say there is no sin in such an important struggle as that which occurs in the process of our arriving at ‘yielding to and embracing’… ‘the will of the Father’ in our temporal lives on earth.

In practicality, what I’ve learned is this. When the devil tries to plague my mind with his “firey darts” of fearful or negative thoughts, I turn my heart to the Lord, knowing He loves me unconditionally and that my eternal life is forever secure in union with Christ. I then say, “Thy will be done” and this disarms the fright of any anticipation.

Accordingly, I find myself several times a day sincerely speaking to the Lord saying “Thy will be done.” This is a denying of my independent self-will in order to be in submission to His will. In that moment I find all fear is gone. So long as I maintain the proper mindset of being set upon the Spirit and the known truths of the Word of God, while always Holding The Eternal In View. I know I am secure come what may. This is the most precious focus for us believers to maintain.