Persevering In Obedience By Yielding To God’s Plan

Last updated on: June 15, 2026 at 12:09 pm by Michele Howe

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Persevering In Obedience By Yielding To God’s Plan 2026-06-15T12:09:41-05:00 Michele Howe

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Yielding To God By Obeying

He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass by. ‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’

Mark 14: 35, 36

We are all familiar with this heart wrenching scene in the garden that Jesus endured before He was arrested. These words that Jesus prayed fill us with fear and dread, don’t they? How can they not? For as Jesus’ own disciples we are called upon to submit to our heavenly Father in the same manner that Jesus did. He led the way in the most extreme example possible so that we might truly understand what it means to follow Him and obey.

Our Savior Yielded In Obedience

Jesus cried out to the Father and begged Him to find a different way out of what He knew was coming. Jesus (because He is also God), understood the suffering He would have to endure at the hands of evil men. And yet, our sinless Savior obeyed His Father every agonizing step of the way to the Cross.

Obedience To God Demonstrates Our Love Toward Him

This particular portion of Scripture reminds me daily of my own needful call to obedience in both the small and the large choices I make. Like Jesus, I too, cry out to my Father and beg Him to reroute, redirect, or even create a different path for me to follow. My sufferings (and yours) will never equate with Jesus’. However, we are called upon as God’s children to obey Him in all ways.

But do we understand that our own willingness to yield demands that we take the principle of obedience seriously? Do we? Or are we like so many modern believers who glibly say (and believe) that we are under grace not the law so Jesus will forgive us for our sins?

Jesus Says If We Love Him We Will Obey Him

It is a sad commentary on today’s churches that teach by commission or omission that obedience to God and His Word is optional. This is not what Jesus teaches us either by word or example. He makes is clear throughout the New Testament that if we love Him we will obey Him.

That very statement should be enough for us to make obedience our aim and goal in this life. Yielding does equal obedience. Our wills are so fraught with pride and selfishness that we may not even be aware of how much impact (and influence) it holds over us. But we are all of us in the grip of sin as long as we walk this earth. Our prayer, like Jesus’, should always be, “Yet I want your will be done, not mine.”

God’s Will Must Reign Over My Own

As I wrestled through my own season of loss I came to realize how very “willful” I was deep into the core of my being. God in His mercy began revealing this sinfulness to me. Honestly, there were moments when I wanted to hush the Holy Spirit as He corrected and rebuked me within my spirit. But I knew that I had to confront my own wayward and stubborn bent to find a way to get my way.

Lord, help us one and all to see that we are truly wretched sinners who require your rescue day and night. We are helpless without Your supernatural intervention. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, to our aid and don’t leave us as we are. Amen.

My Heart’s Cry

Father, I am growing more and more aware of the depth of my willfulness of heart. I do want my own way and I will go to great lengths to secure it. Please forgive me. Help me to surrender all to You in every area of my life. Give me the wisdom and grace I need to obey You swiftly in every situation. When I am fearful or full of anxiety, calm my troubled heart. Comfort me and remind me that You always walk with me. I am at Your mercy but that is the safest place to be. Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much that even when I falter and fail to obey, You stand ready to forgive and restore me. Amen.

The Yes That Changes Everything

Discover perfect peace in God’s past plans and provision. Look back and be honest with yourself as you take time to recall those events in your life when you chose to disobey the Lord. Think about the painful repercussions you experienced and how they could have been avoided. Ask the Lord to give you the wisdom and grace to not repeat those same mistakes but to call out to Him for the courage and strength you need to yield and to obey.
Discover perfect peace in God’s present plans and provision. As you consider the areas in your life today where you are experiencing worry and doubt, ask the Lord to bring His perfect peace and comfort to you. Ask God to reveal to you the eternal powerful truth that He always wants what is the very best for you and that He walks with you through each and every storm. Then thank Him for His past and present faithfulness toward you.
Discover perfect peace in God’s future plans and provision. Set some time aside to spend in prayer with God this week asking Him to reveal to you those circumstances and future situations that you are afraid will happen. Take each fear, each worry, to Him today. Ask Him to bring to your mind specific times when you were overwhelmed by the unknown tomorrows and how God met you at every turn. Then praise Him for His goodness and His everlasting tender love toward you as one of His beloved children.

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About Michele Howe

Michele Howe is the author of 31 books for women, children, and families. She has published over 3000 articles, reviews, and curricula. Her newest release, Brave Faith for Hard Things helps readers find hope and help in times of fear, worry, and anxiety. You can read more about the author here.

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