Good morning. In the Gospel of Luke 22:42, we read about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the greatest trial of His life. He prays, saying, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” In that moment, we witness the depth of Jesus’ trust in the Father’s plan. He was about to enter the path to the Cross, knowing full well the suffering and sacrifice that was ahead. Yet, He surrenders His own will to the divine will of His Heavenly Father. This is a significant embodiment of unwavering trust, submission, and obedience.
As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His trust, especially during our own trials and tribulations. Trusting in God, even when we don’t fully understand His plan, is a fundamental aspect of our faith. I would like to briefly discuss five examples of this.
1) Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane teaches us the importance of surrendering our own will to God’s will. It prompts us to consider that sometimes God’s plan for us may involve difficulties, challenges, or suffering, but we must trust that His plan is for our ultimate good and probably for the good of others too.
2) When we trust in God, we acknowledge His wisdom and knowledge that far surpass our own. Even when we can’t see the bigger picture or comprehend the reasons behind our trials, we believe that God knows what is best for us.
3) Jesus turned to prayer during His moment of trial. Likewise, we should remember the power of prayer to strengthen our relationship with God and seek His guidance, comfort, and strength when facing adversity.
4) Trusting in God is rooted in the knowledge of His unfailing love for us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to endure suffering and sacrifice for our salvation. This love is a testament to His faithfulness and commitment to our well-being.
5) By trusting in God’s plan, we find the strength to endure and persevere through life’s challenges. Our faith becomes a source of courage and hope, allowing us to face the “cups” that are placed before us with a resilient spirit.
There are also numerous examples in the Book of Mormon concerning trusting in God. We read in 2 Nephi 4:34, “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.” We read in Mosiah 7:19, “Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them.”
As we think about the words of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, let’s always remember the lesson of trust in God. We can learn so much more from our Saviour’s example and strive to surrender our will to the divine will of Heavenly Father, trusting that His plan is always for our greater good. In our faith, we find the strength to face life’s trials with unwavering trust, knowing that not our will, but His, be done.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
