Soul Care - Surrendering
by Mary Elsbury
“I give up!”
“Don’t fight it - it’s bigger than both of us.”
How many times have you heard those expressions used by someone doing homework or an individual trying to work out a difficult problem? I must admit that these phrases don’t come out of my mouth very often – it’s the pride in me that doesn’t want to give in – but lately I am finding that yielding is much easier when relying on God for the solution.
Surrender is a battle term. It implies giving up all rights to the opponent. When an opposing army surrenders, they lay down their arms, and the winner takes control. Surrendering to God works the same way. God has a plan for our lives and surrendering to Him means we set aside our own plans and eagerly seek His. Jeremiah 29:11 gives us the good news that God has a plan for us, which is always in our best interest, unlike our own plans that often leads to heartache.
When we let go of our own attempts to earn God’s favor and rely on the finished work of Jesus Christ, we become a child of God. These are times in a Christian’s life that bring deeper intimacy with God. The more areas of our lives we surrender to Him, the more room there is for the filling of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we exhibit the fruit of His character.
The call to surrender is woven throughout Scripture, beginning in Deuteronomy 6:5, where believers are instructed, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This command implies a total surrender of one's being to God, prioritizing His will above personal desires.
The Christian journey of sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, is marked by continual surrender. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” This transformation requires a daily dying to self and living by faith in the Son of God. On the surface, it might seem like you are abdicating responsibilities and not following through, when in reality it is allowing God to lead!
Those who are submissive don’t fight back at life, they lean toward God. He fights for us! Instead of being filled with resentments and willfulness, humbly give it over to God. Your conflicts will disappear, and your inner tensions will vanish into thin air. Your life will become vibrant with hope and expectation. Because you are yielding, you will see what God holds in store for those who trust.
So, what can you do to adopt a posture of surrender? First, remember that God always has your back. He wants what’s best for you. Second, realize that you are not in control. There is nothing that God hasn’t already orchestrated on your behalf. Give up trying to lead and just rest. Third, humbly surrender your will. I struggle with this the most. I can guarantee it will be rough, but well worth the effort.
I recently read a quote from Corrie ten Boom where she said, “I saw that my hand was in another hand. That hand was pierced…it was Jesus’ hand. I never understood what surrender meant – our weak hand in Jesus’ strong hand! His strength is our life!”
The goal of the Christian life can be summed up by Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Such a life of surrender is pleasing to God, resulting in the greatest fulfillment that reaps our ultimate reward - heaven.
