Thy Will Be Done
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
"It's selfish to ask God to help us conceive a healthy baby
isn't it? Shouldn't we just pray, 'Thy will be done'?" Good
question. Should we pray specifically or just ask God to do the
best for us and leave it up to Him? As we understand that God
is a good, caring Father who delights in His children, it isn't
hard to see why He wants to answer our requests. When my daughter
comes to me for an ice cream cone on a hot summer day, I am pleased
to grant the request, unless she has already had three other cones
today or it is just before mealtime. Of course, ice tea might
cool her off just as well, but she asked for ice cream. I want
to please her because she is my beloved daughter. If Annie expresses
no opinion about her desires I wonder what is wrong. If I ask
her if she prefers a blue dress with ruffles or a pink dress with
lace around the color, the right answer is not, "I don't
care, you decide." That is not being compliant and submissive,
but uncaring, unresponsive, depressed, sick. A real sign of maturity,
however--far past my daughter's four years--would be displayed
if she were to accede to my will when she senses a conflict between
her desires and mine. Jesus abhorred His crucifixion as He anticipated
the physical torture and spiritual crush of the world's sins.
He expressed to His Father what He was feeling. Yet knowing that
His death would bring forgiveness and joy to millions, He put
aside His human desires, and acquiesced: "Not my will, but
thine, be done" (Luke 22:44). It is in case of an apparent
conflict, that "Thy will be done" is a wonderful expression
of trust and dependence to a father. So go ahead: your Father
wants you to ask for the specific things you desire. He loves
you, you are free to enjoy His love. "If you ... know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father
who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
(Matthew 7:11).
Copyright © 2026, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.
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