Thy Will be Done ...


Today, we continue our journey through the Lord’s prayer with the 4th petition: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

When we pray, “Thy will be done, …” what does it mean?  As with the coming of God’s Kingdom, Luther reminds us that God’s “good and gracious will … is surely done without our prayer, but we ask … that it may be done also among us.”  And what is God’s will?  To paraphrase the catechism, God’s will is that every evil plan of Satan would be thwarted.  That all those things, which prevent us from keeping God’s name holy, those actions that oppose God’s Kingdom of peace and love, would be defeated.  God’s will is that our faith would be strengthened and we would keep his Word.

It might feel right now like that isn’t happening.  It surely cannot be God’s will that a virus wreaks havoc on the whole world, can it?  Of course not.  But even in the midst of such a pandemic, God’s will is being done.  Even without gathering in the building with the steeple, we remain the church.  Every week, we attend to God’s Word.  Every day, we are strengthened in our faith to serve our neighbors.  Every moment we trust – not perfectly, certainly, but we trust – that God is providing for our needs and the needs of the world.

I know that there are moments when I want to throw up my hands and scream – or just pretend like this pandemic is all over.  But then I am drawn back to God’s Word, which assures me that I belong to him and that I can serve the common good.  And in that moment, God’s will is done.

Rejoice in those moments, big and small, when God’s Word creates a moment of faith, when God unites believers in a common purpose, when God blows away those lies that Satan loves to whisper in your ear about all your sin and failure – and instead gives you a word of forgiveness and new life. 

And as always, may God strengthen you for the journey.

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