• Home
  • Blog
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Katie M. Reid

Finding Grace in the Unraveling of Life

  • Home
    • About
  • Books
    • Made Like Martha
    • A Very Bavarian Christmas
  • Blog
    • Disclosure
  • Podcast
  • Speaking
  • Coaching
    • Resources
  • Singing
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

in Encouragement· Reflections· Scripture· Uncategorized

He Can, But Will He?

Luke 5:12-13 “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, ‘I am willing’, he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.”

This man with leprosy believed that Jesus could make him clean, if He was willing.

Lord, if You are willing You can make me clean. 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego faced a fiery furnace. They knew that God was able to save them from it, but even if He did not they refused to bow down to another (see Daniel 3:16-18). 

Lord, if You are willing You can save us from the fire. 

Jesus can do anything. He can do the impossible (see Matthew 19:26 & Luke 1:37).

Do you believe that?

He can rescue us from the fiery trials that we face. He can heal any kind of disease. He can restore broken marriages. He can free us from addictions. He can bring the dead to life.

Nothing is too difficult for Him (see Genesis 18:14 & Jeremiah 32:27). 

Sometimes He doesn’t rescue, heal, restore, free or resurrect on this side of heaven, but that doesn’t mean that He is unable to. 

What does it mean then?
Picture

The night before Jesus faced the fiercest trial of his life, he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). 

Why was the Father not willing to let this cup pass from Jesus, His beloved child?

Was it because He was displeased with the one praying? Was God angry at him, ignoring him or apathetic towards him? 

Not at all.

Jesus was His Son, the beloved of the Father. So why was He not willing to deliver His Son from the horrific, grave circumstances that He was facing?

It was love. 

Not just love for Jesus but undying love for all of us. God allowed this suffering because He knew the end result would greatly impact the world forever; providing the way to a restored relationship with the Father and life everlasting with Him. 

We have the privilege of knowing the rest of the story, but what if we were there in the Garden with Jesus or there at the foot of the cross as He hung upon it? Would we question God’s Sovereignty? Would we wonder why He wasn’t willing to save His Son? 

Faith is being sure of what we do not see (see Hebrews 11:1) We choose to believe even when what we see seems contradictory to our beliefs. God is who He says He is or He is not.

Picture

I’m not trying to explain away your pain. I just know that sometimes our finite minds are limited and our eyes are short-sighted. If God is not willing to let the cup pass in your life, I believe that it is for a greater purpose than what we can see at present.

God is Sovereign. Trust that He is Loving. Rest assured that He is Just. 

You can take shelter in His Sovereignty and rest in His ability to cover you and keep you underneath the shelter of His wings. He cares deeply for you- so much so that He was unwilling to let the cup of His wrath pass from Jesus. He was willing to let His Son die so that you could live. 

You are precious in His sight and loved beyond comprehension. You can be confident as you rest under the umbrella of His will, because He is faithful. 

He is able to do anything. He is willing to make you clean through Jesus. He loves you that much. He did everything for you at the cross with arms spread wide open in love for you, that you may be saved.

I’ll leave you with a song declaring His power and His ability to do the impossible.

Nothing is impossible with God
Nothing is too hard for Him
He is able, more than able, to do anything.
He is Sovereign, He is Wise, He is Great, has limitless strength.
He’s the God who sees, the God who knows, the God Everlasting, the God of me.

Praying for Miracles,
Katie

Daniel 3:17-18 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

*This post is part of a 30 day devotional series for the Cure Cancer Fast. Come on over and join the movement.

Linking-up with Meredith, Holley and Jennifer today.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Encouragement, Reflections, Scripture, Uncategorized

Previous Post: « Heart Wide Open: Book Review & Author Interview
Next Post: The Notice (Five Minute Friday Prompt) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paige Givens says

    November 19, 2014 at 9:10 am

    I needed this today! God directed me for sure to your post. Great job. Visiting from Holley Gerth.

    • Katie says

      November 19, 2014 at 9:51 am

      Thanks Paige.:)

  2. Betsy says

    November 19, 2014 at 10:21 am

    This is good to read, Katie. My step mother is dying of lymphoma and a dear friend just got not-so-great news about his cancer. It brings perspective to remember that no matter what we or loved ones are going through now, God loves us enough to sacrifice His son for us.
    What I love about that prayer Jesus prays in Gethsemane is that God DOES answer. In the next verse we read that He sends an angel to strengthen His son. (sometimes we too get a different answer than we expect.)

    • Katie Reid says

      November 20, 2014 at 12:10 am

      I am so sorry about your step mother Betsy and your dear friend too. Thank you for your reminder about God sending the angel to strengthen Jesus too- awesome!

  3. Meredith Bernard says

    November 19, 2014 at 10:59 am

    Thank you for this beautiful reminder that I can’t, but GOD CAN. Claiming and believing this today. <3

    • Katie Reid says

      November 20, 2014 at 12:11 am

      Thank you Meredith- needing that reminder a lot too!

  4. Laura says

    November 19, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    I have contemplated this very question: “He can, but will He?” God is all powerful, but He gets to decide when and how He is going to use this power. This can really frustrate me, but trusting in His divine plan certainly helps. One thing I can be sure of though, is that He makes me clean! My sins are forgiven as soon as I ask, and for that I am forever grateful!

    • Katie Reid says

      November 20, 2014 at 12:13 am

      It can frustrate me too Laura.:) I like to be in charge, but I am ill-equipped to run the universe.

  5. alecia simersky says

    November 19, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    I’ve always struggled with this. Knowing God can, but will He?
    A few years ago when we were looking at possible foreclosure on our home, I knew God could make a way, but I didn’t know if He would. When I finally surrendered and said, “You know what? It doesn’t matter. We are doing all we know to do, if God wants this for us in our lives then I will trust Him.”
    I never felt freer than in that moment of release.
    I still have to remind myself to keep surrendering, but having this moment to refer back to reminds me that ‘even-if …”does happen I will still be ok.

    • Katie Reid says

      November 20, 2014 at 12:14 am

      Thank you Alecia for sharing your testimony and real-life example of “He can but will He?” Enjoyed your post today!

  6. Beth S. says

    November 19, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    “If God is not willing to let the cup pass in your life, I believe that it is for a greater purpose than what we can see at present.” Katie, I needed this message today…truly. Beautifully written and a powerful message. Much love. xoxo

    • Katie Reid says

      November 20, 2014 at 12:15 am

      Hi Beth- Snow your way?:) I need this message too, glad it helped you- praising God.:)

  7. Ginger Harrington says

    November 19, 2014 at 9:42 pm

    Such an important encouragement when we face hard things and God does not seem to be answering. It can be such a battle to stand firm in faith. On Sunday I was teaching the high schoolers that God is at work even when the situation seems like He isn’t answering. Visiting from Coffee for Your Heart.

    • Katie Reid says

      November 20, 2014 at 12:16 am

      Thank you Ginger.:)

  8. sarah says

    November 20, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    Such a hard truth some times, especially when it seems like everyone else has it together. It is so easy to believe the lie that Jesus doesn’t care or that He is punishing us.

    • Katie Reid says

      November 24, 2014 at 11:10 pm

      Hi Sarah- A hard truth indeed. Oh how He loves us even when we don’t believe it.

Primary Sidebar

katie reid headshot

MEET KATIE

Hi, I'm Katie (a Modern Martha, wife, and mom to five). I'm so glad you're here! Let's enjoy some cut-to-the-chase conversation over hot or iced tea, as we find grace in the unraveling of life (together). Let's exchange try-hard striving for hope-filled freedom as we settle into our position as a doer and a daughter—created by a Loving Father.

Read More

Subscribe for regular updates & receive a free video series.

Made Like Martha

Made Like Martha
Buy Now

Echoes of My Heart

Echoes of My Heart CD
Buy Now

Favorites for You

25 affiliate resources for communicator creatives and busy women

This site uses affiliate links.
Click here to read the full disclosure.

Footer

Search This Site

Recent Posts

  • Hope in the Middle of Our Struggles with Pastor Adam Reid Part 2
  • Hope in the Middle of Our Struggles with Pastor Adam Reid
  • Time-Saving Tips for Busy Women with Crystal Paine
  • Single and Not Sorry with Ellen Wildman

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 Katie M. Reid · Design by The Design Diva · Development by MRM

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT