Week 49 – December 1-7, 2024: The Mystery of God’s Will

This week’s daily readings:

December 1-7, 2024

This week’s devotional:

The Mystery of God’s Will

by The Rev. Justin Elerath

Scripture:

“Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. 

— Luke 9:44-45 (NIV) 

Reflection:

In this passage, Jesus is speaking to the disciples and telling them what is about to happen. They did not understand, yet Luke makes it clear that the reason was not an intellectual shortcoming or even a spiritual shortcoming, but that the meaning was intentionally hidden from them. What he was speaking about wasn’t really news. Jesus was confirming what Peter had already claimed: that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). What Jesus was predicting was only the confirmation of prophecy. Yet, Jesus hid the meaning of a rather plain statement. 

Jesus’ actions are not ever passed before his followers for their approval – not then, and not now. It is hard to accept that what God wills and what we will are not always in alignment, and sometimes God’s will is often hidden from our eyes so that we do not grasp it. 

Have you ever experienced something in life that you wouldn’t choose, but when you look back on the circumstance, it’s plain to see God’s hand? He may have sustained you for a time, gotten you through a hard time, or he may have revealed his will slowly to ensure your participation. The latter is what happened to me recently. 

I thought I knew what God’s will was, and I took action based on the presumption that what I thought the end result would be was what God wanted it to be. In retrospect, it is clear that God had a plan, and it did require me to take action. But the action that I took could have resulted in my will or it could have resulted in God’s will. Ultimately, when I saw my will falling apart, I realized that God was revealing his will slowly and I had jumped to conclusions about the end. 

In life, we can cooperate with God’s will and move as he reveals his plan, or we can stay put because we don’t know the outcome. Invariable, we will find fulfillment in cooperating with God’s will with however little knowledge we have. 

Prayer: 

All-knowing Father, I really do trust that you always know best and that what you want will surely come to pass – that’s the very definition of being God! But, why all the mystery? I suppose we humans can’t help but try to guess what your intentions are, as foolish as that is. Lord, give me patience and understanding. Help me to grasp your will and to avoid jumping to conclusions. Reveal your will slowly, if that’s what’s best, and tell me when to take action (as well as when not to). Don’t let me be afraid to ask what your will is and give me peace knowing that you’re going to bring about the best possible ending. Amen