Inside: The spiritual anchor that helps us loosen our grip on our plans and release the details of our lives back into the hands of the only One who knows exactly what we need.
Certain seasons of life bring a greater urgency to our prayers.
When life hangs in the balance, chaos swirls, and we face more questions than answers.
When we’re watching on the sidelines, quietly—perhaps desperately—hoping for God to intervene in a loved one’s life, praying that they will respond when He does.
In the waiting room—when we have a dream that seems like it will never be fulfilled, and the fulfillment of it is largely out of our control.
Spiritual Anchor
It was during a season like that last one, when Randy and I were struggling with infertility, that I first learned to pray for God’s will to be done, not mine. It became a spiritual anchor, this phrase that Mitford author Jan Karon calls the “prayer that never fails.”
I’ve come back to it over and over in the years since. It helps me to loosen my grip on my expectations and anxieties, to release the gritty details of my life back into the hands of the One who knows precisely what I need and has promised to fulfill His purposes for me (and you too).
Your will be done.
Quiet Before the Storm
I’ve been praying for many things over the last several months. Overall, though, life has been pretty calm and uneventful.
In other words, it’s been quite some time since I felt the urge to pray this particular prayer regularly and fervently.
Then a quiet, peace-filled December was followed by a January that hurled various bits of unexpected at us. I don’t know about you, but even normal life transitions can throw me off, especially if they seemingly come out of nowhere and I don’t know how they’re going to end up.
We’ve had a few of those going on, plus another more serious (though not life-threatening) issue to navigate.
What Next?
Then one day, I remembered the prayer that never fails. Not that I had forgotten it, as one forgets the name of an old acquaintance or what one had for Sunday dinner three months ago.
As I said earlier, however, I hadn’t prayed it consistently for a while.
May your will be done, not mine.
Looking Back
Deuteronomy 32:7 says, “Remember the days of old; consider the years long past. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you.”
I came across this verse after I chose remember to be my OneWord for 2023. As I think back on seasons of my life long past, a few things stand out. God’s faithfulness, for one, and also what happens in my mind and heart when I remember to pray “thy will be done.”
I suppose it goes without saying, but I’ll tell you anyway. The phrase is back in my daily prayers again, calming my heart and helping me to deposit my cares directly into God’s hands, right where they belong.
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Have you ever “remembered” something that helped you in years past just as you were wondering how to deal with a current situation? Is there a particular verse or phrase from scripture that centers your heart and helps you release your cares to Jesus in prayer? Please share in the comments …
♥ Lois
Even normal life transitions can throw me off, especially if they seemingly come out of nowhere and I don’t know how they’re going to end up. Share on X 'Thy will be done' is back in my daily prayers again, calming my heart and helping me to deposit my cares directly into God’s hands, right where they belong. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.
20 comments
So helpful, Lois.
It’s helping me too, Lauren. 🙂
I remember reading about the prayer that never fails here before, Lois. The Lord has used your words to help me pray it more! I’m sorry you’re feeling the urgency of it again, and am praying for you friend! For me, John 16:33 is one that anchors me time and again in the bigger perspective of who our Savior is and what He promises!
Thanks for your prayers, Bethany. I love John 16:33 too: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Aren’t you glad these scriptural anchors always hold?
Lois, I love Jan Karon’s Mitford series! I’m reading it through again for the second time.
I remember the first time I read “the prayer that never fails”, how it transformed the way I saw things. And so many times I have whispered those words in a moment of confusion or heartache.
Deuteronomy 31:6 visits me on the hard paths, reminding me I am never alone, and God’s Presence is not only with me, but goes before me. Which then reminds me of Isaiah 46:10, God declares the end from the beginning, that is, His chosen and sovereign outcome will come to pass.
Donna, it really is a life-changing prayer, isn’t it? And the scriptures you shared? So powerful and comforting. I love how the truth of one leads directly to the truth of the other. Hugs, friend.
Sometimes these words are a struggle, when I’m clinging to the outcome I hope for. But when I surrender to Him and truly want His best, this prayer brings such peace,
It really does, Barbara. 🙂
“May your will be done, not mine.” Amen! Thank you for reminding me, Lois. Leaving cares and troubles in His hands and will and timing can release the anxiety and burden in our hearts. It’s hard to do, especially for a worry wart like me, but He gives grace again and again. Lately it’s been coming to me, “What I do you don’t understand now, but someday you will.” And I remember how I sometimes only look at the back of a weaving as a big mess of threads that doesn’t make sense, but I need to remember that God is bringing together a glorious picture that honors Him. Love and blessings to you!
Aw, Trudy … I love the message you’ve been hearing lately. Someday we’ll see the picture that God has been weaving together out of that big mess of threads, and then it will all make sense. Such a comforting thought. Love and hugs, friend.
I loved this line: “Then a quiet, peace-filled December was followed by a January that hurled various bits of unexpected at us.” I’m sure we can all relate to that. Life seems to change too fast for comfort sometimes. I’ve often prayed “thy will be done” also, but I’ve probably gotten out of it lately. Thank you for the reminder.
“Too fast for comfort” is a good way to describe it, Ashley. I know of several people whose lives have been upended in one way or another in the last several weeks. It’s disconcerting, to say the least. I’m so thankful that God is the God of all our days.
Dear Lois, this is fascinating because that’s where I’ve found myself in recent months, too. I’ve long given up on telling God what to do and how to do it and there’ve been some situations where I’ve simply had no words anyway. I’ve found myself simply agreeing with God in what He’s doing in the lives of those who He keeps lodged in my heart.
My prayer life is more peaceful, more ongoing. Free-er, lighter. It’s amazing how much energy it took trying to solve the world’s problems when He already knows the end of the story. This has given me such peace. I’m so grateful.
Thanks for writing out what I didn’t have words to say. Amen.
Oh, Linda … I totally understand about all that wasted energy. I used to be pretty adamant about telling God how things needed to go and getting all invested in outcomes that rarely happened. I still share my opinions with Him, but “thy will be done” helps me remember I’m not in charge. The peace is definitely better than all our plans, isn’t it?
Season is my word for this year Lois, so I understand those concerning seasons, one that I’m traversing at present.
I think that prayer ‘your will be done Lord’ is often overlooked for we don’t want an outcome different to what ‘we’ envisage.
But ultimately is must be God’s will for He is far wiser than we are & knows the beginning to the end of each of our loved ones lives as well as our own.
Blessings, Jennifer
I’m sorry you are in a concerning season right now, Jennifer. And oh, those outcomes that we have all planned out in our heads! I think you’re right about this prayer often being overlooked because we don’t want to let those go. And yet, as you say, God is “far wiser than we are” and knows just what we need. Hugs, friend.
oh, how I needed this today. I will be using this daily going forward, and I am so grateful for the reminder.
I’m glad this was timely for you, Sharon. It’s amazing how a few short words can make such a difference, isn’t it? 🙂
“Thy will be done.” Lois that is an anchor that brings peace. Thank you.
So true, Debbie. 🙂