R.C. Sproul

And he, in agony, sweating beads of blood, is on his face before God in the Garden of Gethsemane, and he says, O Lord, if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me.

Was that an act of unbelief on Jesus' part?

By no means.

And he hastened to add, nevertheless, not my will,

but your will be done, which is also mentioned by James, those two little words, Deo Volente.

Don't say that you're going to do something next week or next month or next year without saying at the same time, Deo Volente.

God willing, I will see you next week.

But God may not be willing.

God may take me between now and then, or God may put me on my back and incapacitate me so that the plans that I have prepared for next week will not come to pass because God doesn't will it.

You see, faithful prayer, true faith, what faith is in its essence is trust, and the prayer of faith

is a prayer that trusts God for the outcome, even if he says no.

That's what Jesus teaches us in Gethsemane.

Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.

So if you want me to take that cup, I'm going to trust you while I'm drinking the cup.

That's the posture of Job.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.

And so again, we go back to the principle, the premise I've been repeating, that when we pray, remember who it is we're talking to.

Remember who it is whose will is sovereign.

And God's will does not always agree with my will.

And aren't you glad?