How to Surrender
There will come a time in your life when some well-meaning soul will tell you to “Just surrender”.
But if there’s one thing that’s easier said than done, it's surrender. There’s nothing ‘just’ about it.
There must be a million stories and anecdotes to tell you why surrender is important, but often more important –and less-spoken about – is how to do it. This particular article came to me during my prayer time this morning, after listening to a friend in our prayer group share his struggles with surrender. I was deeply disturbed for this friend who had tried everything he could think of and yet had come up short — nothing seemed to be working. Everyone in our little group could see what the problem was, but no one had the heart to tell him to “Just surrender.”
We could see how much he had been trying to surrender— the problem was, he didn’t have a clue how to do it.
For some of us — like me — surrender came at the bottom of the barrel, where there was nothing left to do and no one else to turn to. At the very tail of the proverbial snake, without any ladders up, there is no other option, but to put your hands up and say “You do it, Lord. I give up.” But for those of you who still have some hope of a ladder a few squares ahead, still a few more rolls of the dice, you may want to surrender, but it will come only from understanding something very important.
Surrender comes from trust — you cannot surrender your life or will to someone you think will harm you.
Trust, in turn, comes from being convinced that God loves you — someone who truly loves you will only want what is best for you.
But this conviction comes only when we can allow God to love us.
What does this mean? God told me this morning in an unpretentious little story and I pray that his Spirit gives you understanding as you read it.
Sarah kept an immaculate home — the foyer had fresh flowers every week, her kitchen was always stocked, her bathrooms were spotless, the meals were delicious. The youngest partner at her law firm, Sarah always managed to get in an hour at the gym before her husband even woke up. But beneath all the muscle and make-up, there was a crack in the plaster – Sarah felt unloved.
As time wore on, Sarah’s emotions began to feel swollen and heavier. Until one day, Sarah stopped. She stopped going to the office, the gym, the supermarket, the florist, even the kitchen. But then, a delightful thing happened. John poked his head around the bedroom door and smiled at his disheveled wife — he had made soup. As she half-heartedly ate, he brushed her hair gently into a loose pony-tail, then brought in a vase of fresh flowers for her bedside table. She brightened at the baby pink tulips — why had she never gotten tulips home, she wondered to herself, as John began to make a list of groceries that needed buying. She looked at him from the bed. “You do love me.”, she said, half under her breath.
“Of course I do, silly. You just never let me.”
If you’re trying to do things, decide things, work things out, fix things (including yourself) you’re not leaving anything for God to do in your life. Let him show you how much he loves you — leave some things in his hands. If there’s something that you’re struggling with, tell him about it, ask him to get involved and then, like Sarah, stop. Let him do it.
If he doesn’t — well, go back to him! Ask him why he didn’t do it. Ask him when he’s going to do it. Nag him! He wants you to. What he doesn’t want you to do is take it back from him and try and do it on your own again. Just sit tight — let him move you along. Like a gentleman on the dance floor, God does all the footwork, guiding you on with a gentle pressure on your back. The more you go to him with your problem, refusing to do anything about it on your own, the clearer you will be able to hear his voice. Then one day, his Holy Spirit will tell you very softly in your ear which way to turn. And just like that, you won’t be wrestling with your future anymore — you’ll be dancing with God.
“And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” — Isaiah 30:21
Until you get there, dear friend, allow God to love you — let him take care of your problems, your relationships, your children, your career, your plans. Don’t go to the store — let him bring you that bouquet of blessings he’s waiting to give you.
