Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
What does it mean when we are told to surrender? To completely let go; release all things, plans, desires, and will to God. Some may say it’s easier said than done, and I would agree. What I learned through this act though, is that the harder something is to surrender, the greater the outcome will be as you do; allowing God to have His way.
Not only is surrendering an action; it is a necessary heart posture for our lives in Christ. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior, we surrender ourselves unto him. We believe in our hearts, and confess with our mouths, God, you know me better than I know myself and I'm choosing to put my faith in you, rather than my own understanding. Psalms 139 tells us that he has all the days of our lives recorded in his book of life… So why doubt that he is in control?
Psalm 139:16 “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
As I'm currently walking through a tough season of surrender, it's been a challenge to my faith that it's not enough for me to surrender once, but to be constantly surrendering every day, even every hour if needed. How many of us know… that can be exhausting? Believing you desire something so badly, but knowing that in the end it will only lead to death, rather than life.
Through this season, The Holy Spirit has lovingly taught me so much. He’s shown me that it is pivotal to be aware of the constant battle against the plan God has set out for me, and the disasters that the enemy wants me to willingly walk into. He has also taught me that the Lord is in fact my strength, and in my own will power, I would only fail and quickly give into my natural desires.
It is only through the Spirit within me that I have the authority, and self control to hold tightly to the truth of God, and prevail. Regardless of what my flesh may desire.
Galatians 5:16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
Although at times it has been hard, hard doesn't always mean bad. The best things in life require true sacrifice, and hard work. Like we are told in ecclesiastes, there is a season for everything under heaven. I know that sooner or later, this season will pass, and I will reap the harvest that God intended for me to have, as long as I continue to stand firm in him, and trust that he knows best.
Isaiah 55:8-9 ““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
All throughout scripture, we see that God is a faithful God. His promises always come to pass, and he is filled with unmeasurable love for his people. What we also see.. Is a warning through the testimony of the Israelites, that when they became weary, they gave up and forfeited the promised land for a life destined in the wilderness. Every day we have a choice, and the choices we make end up making us.
Deuteronomy 32:52 “So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”
When I gave my life to Jesus, I committed myself to always believing that He has good plans, and that I will fight to wait on him everyday, and every season of my life.
If you are struggling to surrender and wait on God, let me encourage you that by the Holy Spirit you have the strength! Run to him. Cry out, and let him know how hard it is, and he will always meet you right where you're at, providing for your every need because his mercies are new every morning. If you feel things getting harder than ever, it's because the enemy knows breakthrough and blessing is right around the corner.
Psalms 37: 4-5 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”