Article May 4, 1974 Issue

"Lord, I want out!"

EDWIN G. LEEVER

Who hasn't prayed such a prayer? I know I have, and more than once. After all, even Jesus at one time prayed, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me."^{Mark 14:36;}

Of course, we can't possibly compare what Jesus was facing then and what we have to face in our daily lives now. But it's always been reassuring to me to know that a person of Christ Jesus' great understanding and steadfast dominion had a time when he, too, "wanted out." But he didn't let his prayer rest there, as we so often do. He went on, "Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt" or, as Luke records it, "Not my will, but thine, be done."^{Luke 22:42;} This brought in a whole new dimension.

When we're wanting out of an unbearable situation at home, impossible working conditions on the job, or, perhaps, a dull, meaningless day-to-day existence, do we sincerely pray for God's will to be done? Jesus did. And what had seemed to be total disaster for him ended up an everlasting victory. He didn't lose anything by going all the way in letting God's will be done. And neither will we, as we honestly and prayerfully face up to what we must do in our so-called hopeless dilemma.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"Lord, I want out!"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access