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Psalm 115:1-8  
Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 

At some point the prayer that comes from trembling lips and a shaken life is short and to the point—“I surrender.” Jesus prayed fervently for the desires of His heart; yet submitted Himself willingly to the sovereign plan of God. Like Jesus, we must submit ourselves to God’s plan. God is sovereign; He “does whatever pleases him.” But know this—everything that pleases Him is good and right. 

Back in 1676, a hymn writer named Samuel Rodigast had a dear friend who became seriously ill. In his fervent prayer for the friend’s healing, Rodigast wrote these words:

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Holy His will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth,
And follow where he guideth:
He is my God;
Though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather,
Now I may know both joy and woe,
Someday I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path,
I know He will not leave me:
I take, content,
What He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.

So Father, to You I leave it all, knowing someday I will see that through all of life’s challenges You have “loved me dearly.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.