God's True Will
God’s True Will
A devotion By Jason Ling
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Mark 10:38 (NIV)
In Mark 10:32–40, we find Jesus walking resolutely toward Jerusalem. His disciples follow Him, amazed and afraid. He knows what lies ahead: betrayal, suffering, and the cross. Yet, in the middle of this moment of divine gravity, James and John approach Him with a bold request: “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
They were expecting glory. Jesus was preparing for suffering.
This is a picture of how easily our expectations can clash with God’s true will. James and John weren’t necessarily being selfish—they believed Jesus was the Messiah, and they wanted to be near Him. But they misunderstood what His glory looked like. They envisioned thrones; Jesus envisioned a cross.
How often do we do the same? We ask God for position, success, comfort—believing these are signs of His blessing. But sometimes, God’s will includes hardship, refinement, and a path that looks nothing like the one we had in mind. Jesus’ response—“You don’t know what you are asking”—is a loving but sobering reminder that God’s plan often leads us through surrender before glory.
Yet here’s the hope: Jesus doesn’t rebuke James and John harshly. Instead, He invites them deeper into His mission—yes, they will drink the cup and share in His baptism of suffering. But not as a punishment—as a participation in God’s kingdom.
Lord, forgive me when I come to You with my own expectations instead of seeking Your will.
Help me trust Your plan, even when it leads through valleys I didn’t choose. Teach me to value being close to You more than being honored by others. Let my life reflect Your glory—on Your terms, not mine. In Jesus’ name, amen
A devotion By Jason Ling
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Mark 10:38 (NIV)
In Mark 10:32–40, we find Jesus walking resolutely toward Jerusalem. His disciples follow Him, amazed and afraid. He knows what lies ahead: betrayal, suffering, and the cross. Yet, in the middle of this moment of divine gravity, James and John approach Him with a bold request: “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
They were expecting glory. Jesus was preparing for suffering.
This is a picture of how easily our expectations can clash with God’s true will. James and John weren’t necessarily being selfish—they believed Jesus was the Messiah, and they wanted to be near Him. But they misunderstood what His glory looked like. They envisioned thrones; Jesus envisioned a cross.
How often do we do the same? We ask God for position, success, comfort—believing these are signs of His blessing. But sometimes, God’s will includes hardship, refinement, and a path that looks nothing like the one we had in mind. Jesus’ response—“You don’t know what you are asking”—is a loving but sobering reminder that God’s plan often leads us through surrender before glory.
Yet here’s the hope: Jesus doesn’t rebuke James and John harshly. Instead, He invites them deeper into His mission—yes, they will drink the cup and share in His baptism of suffering. But not as a punishment—as a participation in God’s kingdom.
- What expectations have you placed on God that may not align with His will?
- Are you willing to follow Jesus, even when the road leads through suffering before glory?
- How can you better seek God’s presence over position?
Lord, forgive me when I come to You with my own expectations instead of seeking Your will.
Help me trust Your plan, even when it leads through valleys I didn’t choose. Teach me to value being close to You more than being honored by others. Let my life reflect Your glory—on Your terms, not mine. In Jesus’ name, amen
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