Thy Will Be Done: Learning to Trust God When Surrender Is Hard
There are prayers we return to often because they feel safe. They align with our hopes and echo the outcomes we long to see. And then there are prayers that require something deeper from us. Prayers that ask us to loosen our grip and trust God with what we would rather control.
One of those prayers is simple, familiar, and quietly challenging.
Thy will be done.
Praying for What We Long for Is Not Wrong
Praying for what we long for is not wrong. Scripture invites us to bring our requests before the Lord with honesty and humility.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” -Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
God welcomes our desires, our hopes, and even our fears.
Still, when our prayers are not anchored in “Thy will be done,” they can quietly and quickly reshape our hearts around control rather than trust. Over time, we may begin to believe we know what is best for us, even as we ask God to help us get there. Instead of seeking His will, we seek His aid in support of our own plans.
Why “Thy Will Be Done” Recenters the Heart
These words are not meant to silence desire. They are meant to rightly order it. When we pray “Thy will be done,” we are reminded of a fundamental truth. God is on the throne, and no one knows better than He does.
This prayer realigns our hearts with the very real reality that God is sovereign, wise, and good in all His ways. He is not reacting to our circumstances. He is ruling over them with perfect purpose.
The God Who Holds All Things Together
Scripture reminds us that Christ is before all things and that in Him all things hold together.
“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” -Colossians 1:17 (NIV)
The same God who governs the universe is the God who oversees our steps. Nothing is wasted in His hands. Nothing escapes His care. Trust grows when we remember who He is and what He is capable of doing.
Jesus in the Garden: Surrender in Suffering
Luke 22:42 brings us to a quiet and heavy moment in Scripture:
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (NIV).
In the garden, Jesus prayed under the weight of what lay ahead. He knew the suffering that was coming. The cost of obedience was clear.
Jesus did not deny His desire for another way. He brought it honestly before the Father. And yet, in the midst of sorrow, He surrendered and submitted to the will of God.
What a beautiful example of faithful obedience. This is the pattern Christ gives to every believer. Trusting God does not mean the path will be painless. It means choosing obedience even when the way forward is costly.
When Obedience Feels Heavy
There are seasons when surrender feels especially difficult. When we do not understand the outcome. When the pain feels sharp. When we so badly wish there was another way.
Even then, we can rejoice. The God of all creation delights in sustaining and providing for His own. He is sovereign and perfect in all His ways, and He wastes no thing. Our peace does not come from knowing what will happen next but in knowing Who holds us in the palm of His mighty hands, despite our circumstances.
Prayer Is Our First Response
Prayer is not meant to be used as a last resort. It is intended to be our first response.
When we pray “Thy will be done,” we are not giving up hope. We are placing our hope where it belongs! In the hands of a faithful and sovereign God.
May we be found doing just that.
A Prayer of Surrender
Heavenly Father,
You see what I cannot and know what I do not. You understand every detail of what is before me.
I bring my desires to You today with open hands, even when surrender feels difficult. There are things I wish were different and paths I wish were easier.
Still, I trust that You are wiser than I am and that Your ways are good, even when they are painful.
Give me the strength to yield what I want to control and the faith to follow You when I do not understand. My hope is not in the outcome, but in You.
Thy will be done. Amen.
Meet the Author
Elle Cardel
Elle is a sinner saved by God’s grace. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Michael, and their two little loves, Selah (4) and Aidan (1). Elle is the founder of Daughter of Delight and the author of She Delights and its accompanying Bible study, which you can find here.
With a degree in biblical theology, Elle is passionate about helping women grow in their love for God’s Word through the Daughter of Delight podcast (currently on an extended break but there are so many episodes to enjoy in the meantime here), daily devotionals, and free biblical resources (find those here).
