Surrendering to God’s Will
by Amey Edens
When I hear the word “surrender,” I often think of the hymn “I Surrender All”—a song Pastor Gary Johnson mentioned earlier this month. This hymn piqued my curiosity, and I wanted to learn more about it; who wrote it, and what prompted its creation? After all, much of music comes from the personal experiences of the songwriter.
The hymn was written by J.W. Van DeVenter, who was born in Michigan in 1855. Although he had a natural talent for art and dreamed of achieving fame through it, his life took a different turn. In his early adult years, he encountered God and became a man of deep faith. Those around him encouraged him to use his love for the Lord to become an evangelist. This led him to wrestle with the decision to surrender his own desires and pursue God’s calling for his life. J.W. later wrote:
For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last, the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered deep within my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing.
In 1896, J.W. began traveling throughout England and Scotland, sharing the good news and surrendering his life fully to God. He opened every door of his heart to God’s will.
This leads me to ask: Have you opened every door in your life to God, or are you holding some doors shut? This is a question I often ask myself, even after walking with the Lord for over 24 years. Surrender can be difficult, especially for those of us who are naturally competitive or struggle with control. The dictionary defines surrender as ceasing resistance to an enemy and submitting to their authority. Yet, this is not the kind of surrender God desires from us.
Throughout the Bible, we find many examples of individuals who surrendered to God’s will. Think of Mary, the mother of Jesus; Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac in obedience to God; and the three Israelites—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, standing firm in their faith. Even Jesus, in His humanity, surrendered His will to the Father when He went to the cross. Before His crucifixion, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Surrendering to God is a lifelong journey. It’s not a one-time decision but a daily choice to submit our will to His, just as J.W. Van DeVenter and the people in the Bible did. The rewards of surrendering are immeasurable - leading to deeper trust, peace, and fulfillment in our lives.
I can recall a time when I struggled, or perhaps refused, to surrender to God’s calling. My husband felt led to leave our previous church, but I was adamant in my refusal. I didn’t want to be far from our young adult children and my mom. My heart was torn with fear—fear of losing closeness with my family, fear of missing important moments in their lives. I was afraid of stepping away from what felt normal and comfortable. Over time, I prayed and sought God’s will, asking Him to help me see His provision, protection, and purpose in the decision. Eventually, He led us to another church, and in hindsight, it was perfect timing. Our ministry has flourished in ways I never imagined, and I now get to see our adult children, grandchildren, and mom more than I ever thought possible. God has truly met our needs as we surrendered to His will.
Our church is currently in its second year of a three-year strategic plan called Live Like, Love Like, and Lead Like Jesus. Several Scriptures remind us of the call to live like Him:
1 John 2:6 – “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Matthew 16:24 – “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
John 3:30 – “He must become greater; I must become less.”
This strategic plan has opened my eyes and challenged our congregation to think about how we can live more like Jesus. It’s refreshing to learn from the living Word how we can learn to live like Jesus.
Jesus is calling you to live like Him. Is it hard for you to surrender your fears, anxieties, habits, or past hurts to Him? Will you open every door of your heart to Him? The lyrics to “I Surrender All” capture the essence of this commitment:
All to Jesus, I surrender,
All to Him, I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
Surrendering all to Jesus involves a deep commitment to align our lives with His word and His will. Here are six steps we can take:
Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior: Recognize that Jesus is not only your Savior, who forgives your sins, but also your Lord, to whom you give authority over your life.
Trust in His Plan: Surrendering means letting go of control and trusting that God's plan is far better than your own.
Pray and Seek His Will: Spend time in prayer, asking for guidance and strength to follow His will in every area of your life.
Let Go of Attachments: Be willing to release anything—whether possessions, relationships, or desires—that stands in the way of fully following Jesus.
Live by His Word: Obey the teachings of the Bible and live according to the principles of love, humility, and holiness that Jesus demonstrated.
Submit to the Holy Spirit: Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your desires and actions to be more like Christ.
Surrendering to Jesus is a daily journey—one where we continually choose to trust Him and live in a way that reflects His love and grace. Won’t you join me in living like Jesus in 2025?
