I’m not gonna lie to you, my bloggy people. Yesterday was a BAD day. I just this second remembered a book I used to read to my kids called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Well, yesterday, I could’ve given ol’ Alexander (and he would be old by now – that book’s been around for a while!) a run for his money. You see, after going through the steps that Jesus went through to deal with His heavy heart, I found myself wrestling with the fact that I had to reconcile myself to the fourth step: I had to concede that God’s will was NOT in line with my own, and figure out a way to be okay with that.

My reaction to God saying “No, My way is going to be different and harder”, was NOT the act of worship that is immediate submission, but sadness and, if I’m to be honest, not just a little anger.  This situation is something I’ve been praying about for a LONG time, and even though I had an inkling in my spirit that the answer was going to go down this way, the greater part of me was expecting an eleventh-hour show-down of the awesome power of my God.  Certainly, He could’ve done it the way I’d hoped, but He didn’t.  So, yesterday was about tears and anger and a pretty sad display of pouting. It wasn’t pretty.
Fortunately, His mercies are new every morning. This morning I awoke with a better attitude and was ready to listen.  I revisited Jesus’ walk with His heavy heart and was reminded that neither was His prayer answered in the way He so fervently prayed.  His “cup” was not taken from Him; instead, He was made to drink it.  As I read on in the story, I noticed a significant lack of pouting on His part – even in the face of impending brutality, humiliation, and death. Talk about fresh perspective.
Because He didn’t fight it, but worshipfully submitted to God’s will, I have the freedom to go directly to God and lay before Him the desires of my heart.  I have the promise of eternal life and the immeasurable gift of constant communion with the God of the universe.  My dirty slate has been wiped clean and will not be held against me.  When God said “no” to Jesus, it was for the unimaginable good of you and me.  Should I expect anything less from His “no” to me?
Today, instead of my head in my hands, I’m turning my face to the Son.  I’m going to lay my weak faith of yesterday at His feet and ask Him to line up my will with His – to give me His perspective, His resolve, His faith in His Father.  I’m going to exchange my pouting for His peace. 
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body 
you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)