Parents know full well what's meant by "a battle of the wills". It seems that children are born with a degree of defiance programmed into their psyche.

Not to say that adults don't suffer from the same thing. We often make decisions that oppose the will of our spouse, our neighbour, or our doctor. We disagree about moving our home with our spouse. Our neighbour wants a privacy fence while we'd be satisfied with chain link. The doctor tells us to stop smoking or exercise daily and it goes in one ear and out the other.

So, like children, we sometimes force our wills (and opinions) on another. We can't say that children are the only stubborn ones.

Oftentimes though, whether we like it or not, circumstances take control and our will doesn't matter. Whether it be from sickness, being downsized at work, forced to sell our home—or whatever else may come our way—our wills don't have the final say. Situations come that overcome our will and we must yield to their superior strength.

It's the same in our relationship (or lack of such) with our Creator. God gives us a lot of slack in various areas of life. For example, we all freely choose to ignore Him as we start to grow up. However, His will is always there, often behind the scenes, and ultimately prevails over ours.

Only hours away from the cross, we see how greatly distressed Jesus was about the horrors He was facing. His words in today's verse aren't a rebellion against God, but a way to reveal how completely He loathed the anguish ahead.

So when Jesus “asked” that He not drink from the cup of suffering, He was honestly stating how horrifying the whole matter was at that moment. Jesus sought the will of the Father as He prayed with “loud cries and tears” Hebrews 5:7 (NIV). He touched the Father’s heart by addressing Him as “My Father”.

Jesus’ true humanity is seen in His appeal to the Father. However, without pausing, He immediately says, "Yet not as I will, but as you will." (NIV)

Are you are praying today and asking your Heavenly Father for relief from the sorrow that burdens you, or a change in the situation that's brought you grief? If so, that's an acceptable prayer to offer.

Remember, that as Jesus was praying these words, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” (Luke 22:43).

The statement of Jesus wasn't a word of resignation but of faith.

You too may find that the Lord gives you the strength and courage to submit to His will, and then you will triumph, just as Jesus did in Gethsemane.