Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. — Matt 6:10
Some people quote this petition always as if it meant only submission to some painful providence. They suppose it refers only to losing friends or money, or to adversity or calamity. But it is for the doing of God’s will, not the suffering of it, that we here pray. It is easier, however, to make prayers like this for other people than for ourselves. We all think others ought to do God’s will, and we do not find it a difficult prayer to make that they may do so. If, however, we offer this prayer sincerely, it is for ourselves, that we may do God’s will. We can pray it, therefore, only when we are ready for implicit, unquestioning obedience. Or it may mean the giving up of some sweet joy, the losing of some precious friend, the sacrifice of some dear presence, the going in some way of thorns and tears.
We should learn always to make the prayer and then to hold our life close to the divine will, never rebelling or murmuring, but sweetly doing or bearing what God gives us to do or bear.