I hate detours.

There has been an intense amount of road work being done around our area. The other day I got in my car and began driving to my destination. I knew where I was going. I chose the way I wanted to go to get there and I began driving. After a while, I begin to see orange signs and policemen all around.

My body begins to go into stress mode. Do you know what I am talking about? I start thinking to myself, “I just want to go where I am going, the way I know to go.” I am not a directional person. I rely on my gps like it is a lifeline, and I won’t survive without it. So, the idea of trying to navigate some other way is very stressful for me.

Sometimes our direction in life changes, and it is not what we envisioned or what we wanted. Share on X

How do we let go of what we wanted, or what we had dreamed about, in exchange for what God is allowing in our lives for His will to be accomplished?

How do we release our heart’s desires for what He has chosen to do in our lives for the moment?

If we have been following Jesus for awhile we can mentally know that God’s plans are the best. We can know and want His will, but I am learning this is easier said than done.

I used to think that if I was following Jesus the way I should be, God would just shift things in me, and I would immediately be on board. I am learning this is a process. A process that has to be prayed through, and is even agonized over. I am learning that Jesus went through this too.

Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:36-41 (NASB)Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully man. It is hard to comprehend sometimes. I was feeling a little depressed and began thinking about these things we are discussing today. The Holy Spirit led me to these scriptures to remind me that Jesus understands my struggle. He understands your struggle.

Jesus knew the time to go to the cross was near. It says here, He began to be grieved and distressed. He said to those disciples, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death.” He knew what was coming and his fleshly human man part was in turmoil. He went to pray. He asked our Heavenly Father to take it away if it was possible.

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” Matthew 26:42-46 (NASB)

Not only did Jesus ask the Father once, but He went back and asked again and then a third time. Jesus had to pray through this. He desired to do His Father’s will. He battled with his human flesh part. I think we forget this part about Jesus. Just because He was fully God, yet He was also fully man, and that is how He relates to us and understands.

I fight feeling bad about my process. I struggle with thinking that I shouldn’t be struggling with these feelings if I am really such a strong Christian. Jesus lived without sin. These scriptures show me I am not sinning because I am working through this process.

To struggle is not sin, disobedience is the sin. Share on X

Jesus was obedient to the Father and because He was obedient, we are able to have salvation. Our personal relationship with God has been restored and we can live free again.

Most of the time our obedience doesn’t just affect us, but also those around us or those we come in contact with in life.

Jesus was fully God and fully man. We are not Jesus but we are fully human and we do have the Holy Spirit. I pray we will allow ourselves to pray through the struggle. Jesus shared his feelings with the Father. He was honest about what He was going on inside of Him. He surrendered His will for His Father’s will and I am thankful He did.

Heavenly Father, I pray we will bring our struggles to You. I pray we will bring every emotion and thought to You transparently. Help us to surrender our will, our plans, and our desires to You. Give us strength to obey when we feel like running away. Thank you for Jesus. Thank You that He understands our struggle and for the way the Holy Spirit ministers to our hearts. May we walk in obedience to You today. In Jesus Name, Amen!