Surrender

As a pastor, the phrase “surrender to God” is one that comes up occasionally.  

What comes to mind when you hear that phrase?

We were born with a natural instinct to fear and resist “surrender”.  Why? Fear.  

Fear says to surrender to God means a begrudging hands up “ok, you win, I lose, I will do things I don’t want to do and not get to do things I wanted to.”

That’s fear talking.  

Have you ever encountered a stray dog that was clearly in need of food and care but it was too scared to be touched or cared for?  Someone taught that dog to “surrender” is unsafe. We are born with the instinct to trust ourselves more than the God who made and loves us and that course teaches us that surrender is unsafe because eventually trusting your heart to others will come back to bite you.  

Yes, surrender means I yield to God’s leadership but it also means I surrender to His care.  What we often to fail to realize is that surrender is really putting myself into His care. His care involves leadership but it is receiving love, care, security and peace as well.  

I hear people say they don’t have peace and rest in their soul and sometimes I experience that as well. Almost without fail, it is because there is a place or issue I am not surrendering to the leadership and care of the Father.

So here is to surrender.  

“Father, I surrender to your leadership and care. You always prove more wise and loving than I imagined so I give you the reins and receive the card and leadership I needed all along.”
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬