Dealing With DiscontentmentSýnishorn

Hebrews 4:15 tells us that we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. That description is talking about Jesus, who was tempted in every way that we have. That is right; Jesus had moments of discontentment with the purpose of His life. When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed three times that the Father would remove the cup from Him if there were any other way. The cup He refers to symbolizes suffering and divine judgment, as this is the moment in which Jesus acknowledges that He must endure the cross for our sins.

Up to this point, Jesus has performed all the miracles, preached the Word, and revealed Himself to be the Christ to His disciples, yet the tallest task He has to deal with is now becoming a reality. It has become so real to Him that as He prays, His sweat becomes like drops of blood. Each time Jesus asks if the cup can be removed, He ends with a phrase that has to become our posture as we wrestle with discontentment. Jesus always responds to the Father, “Nonetheless, not my will but yours.”

I want to encourage you through the account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane that even though Jesus desired another way to fulfill His assignment, He saw you and me and said, “Nonetheless, not my will but yours.” He saw the discontentment we would experience, the struggles we would endure, and the need for our salvation, and said, “For them, I will endure this cup.”

I pray that we can learn from the example of our Savior that when discontentment in our lives comes, we can say, “Lord, not as I will but as You will.” We have these grand plans and visions for what life should be like, but we must take a step back and consult the Father for His will for our lives. When we refocus our eyes on Him, we will find that ultimate satisfaction is found in Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me redirect my focus to Your will for my life. I acknowledge that what You desire for my life may not be convenient, but I trust You nonetheless. Even in moments of discontentment, I choose to trust what You desire for my life. As You modeled in the garden, I will respond not my will but Yours be done. In Jesus' name, amen.