Quennie Joyce Ibarra
(Misamis Occidental, Philippines)
Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” - Luke 22:42 (NRSVUE)
A few months ago, our family of three moved into my late grandfather’s home — a tiny seaside cabin. On the property also stood a primary school that had closed when my grandpa passed away. After his death I prayed for a way to reopen the school. Although I was pregnant with our second baby, I was determined to overcome whatever challenges we faced to make this happen. My husband was supportive, and we agreed to try to make it work. But the house was already too small for us, safety and security were becoming concerns, and it felt like God was saying no to my prayer.
One day I read Jesus’ prayer in Luke 22. His humility and submission to the Father was humbling as he said, “Not my will but yours be done.” Realizing this, my heart’s posture turned to surrender. I don’t know if God will grant me this desire in the future, but I echo Jesus’ words: “Not my will but yours be done.”
In hindsight, I cannot imagine running a school while pregnant or with a newborn. I’m learning to trust God’s wisdom, knowing that even God’s “no” is an expression of love and protection for us.
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