So many times in my life I have reached out to the Lord in prayer with a simple cry – “Help me, Jesus!” Crisis situations come and I pray. People’s troubles press on me and I carry them to Him. When I find my heart drifting from true devotion I turn to Him with a child-like prayer for a changed heart.

Jesus came to Jerusalem, a city full of dreams of restored glory in Israel. The people were looking for a Deliverer. His miracles had made Him known. His teaching was simple, clear, and compelling so when came riding into the city on donkey, fulfilling an ancient prophecy, they were sure the time had come for Messianic hopes to be realized. The problem was what they thought that meant! They expected an overthrow of Roman tyranny and the renewal of a Davidic throne with Jesus as King. So, they cried – “Hosanna!” (Save us!)  But those celebratory shouts were only temporary.

Mark tells us the story. 11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Just a week later, the outcry was “Crucify Him!” They did not want a suffering Savior. They wanted a triumphant King.

Have you ever found your expectations of God’s deliverance unmet? I know you have. We all do. We become fixated on a certain outcome, certain that if we worship in the ‘right’ way, sing the ‘right’ songs, or pray the ‘right’ prayers, God will give us what we want, when we want it. Sometimes HE does and sometimes … well, He does not.

Isaiah was inspired with God’s truth – “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.”  Can you accept that with real faith?

Jesus models the pathway for us in His own surrender to the Father’s will. In Gethsemane’s garden, He saw the Cross looming, the weight of the sins of the world that would rest on His shoulders, tearing Him from life. It was awful to contemplate, but He prays – “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

We will find the deepest assurance and the greatest intimacy with Jesus when we are willing let go of our expectations that He act in a certain way for us. Yes, we can pray bold prayers and we should. Yes, we can ask in full faith, but always with a child-like faith that let’s God be God.

Let’s not allow our hearts to become bitter when our expectations go unmet. Instead, let us find His love our comfort, His providence our hope, His wisdom our safe place.
May our “Hosanna” (save us) be an expression of worship that is offered in great faith.
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For reflection –
When I have I cried out in prayer and met with disappointment?
Will I surrender my desire to His will?
Who can help me find that peace that comes with acceptance of His will in my life?
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I am excited to hear of your discoveries, about your struggles, and to pray with you.
If you would like to share any of those things with me you may do by emailing me – JerScott55@gmail.com

For a video of this devotion go to

https://www.youtube.com/@FaithDiscoveryChurch