Surrender is probably one of the most challenging topics in your Christian walk. As Christians, we are called to surrender our lives to God. But what does this truly mean? What does a surrendered life look like? And why should we surrender in the first place? I’ll do my best to answer these questions throughout this article.
According to a topical encyclopedia, “Surrender, in a biblical context, refers to the act of yielding or submitting to the authority and will of God. It involves a relinquishment of personal control and a trust in God’s sovereignty and plan. Surrender is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, emphasizing obedience, humility, and faith.”
An example of surrender in the Bible is in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus fully surrenders to the will of God just before He is taken, wrongfully accused, and crucified on the cross for our sins. “Facing imminent crucifixion, Jesus prays, ‘Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done ‘” (Luke 22:42). This moment highlights the importance of submitting to God’s will, even in the face of personal suffering.
We as Christians can surrender (yield, submit) in the same way, not because we have to, but because we genuinely want to. We can get to a place where we’re so overcome with God’s great love for us that we choose willingly and lovingly to surrender to God and His will. God loves us so much that He sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we are no longer separated from Him but are grafted into His family and are gifted eternal life. (John 3:16) And it says in God’s word that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
So what does this look like in practice? Surrendering to God and His will for your life is trusting that God has you completely taken care of. It’s trusting Him with every aspect of your life, from your health, relationships, finances, vocation or occupation, family life, responsibilities, and anything else you can think of.
To go deeper, surrender looks like trusting God to provide for your family in a time of need. It can also look like letting go of your expectations, wants, dreams, hopes, and desires in exchange for what God has in store for you. His will and His way will always be higher than our will and our way. (Isaiah 55:8-9). We can only see what’s present in this moment, while God sees the whole picture. It says in Psalms 139:16 that all of our days were numbered before the world even began, and before the world began, He had you on His mind. (Ephesians 1:4). It also says in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has good plans for your life. Plans not to harm you but to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future. We can trust God with our lives, and because of that trust, we can fully surrender all to Him.
Personally, I’m working on surrendering my sin, my health, my finances, and my hopes, dreams, desires, and expectations to the Lord. Surrender isn’t easy, and it requires a daily conscious decision. But God can and will always equip, strengthen, and sustain you in your surrender.
Is there something you’ve been holding on to that you know God has been nudging you to lay down and surrender? Have you surrendered your life to God? I encourage you to take some time to reflect on those questions and some of the questions that I will leave below.
If you are feeling the nudge to surrender, that’s amazing! It shows God is working in your heart. You can pray and ask God to help you fully surrender whatever comes to mind. If you feel you don’t know what to surrender, ask God. He will make it known to you through the Holy Spirit.
Here are practical ways to surrender to God, along with questions for deeper reflection.
Start your day by giving God your plans
Let go of the things you cannot control
Give God your worries instead of ruminating on them
Trust and obey God even when you can’t see the whole picture
Release your timeline and let go of your expectations
Remember that surrender is a daily practice and requires a conscious effort
And most importantly, give yourself grace!
Questions for deeper reflection:
What area of my life am I having the hardest time surrendering to God right now? Why do I think I’m holding onto it?
Am I truly trusting God with my life, or am I trying to control certain outcomes myself?
What fears come up when I think about fully surrendering my plans, dreams, or desires to God?
Is there something God may be gently nudging me to release or lay down? What might that be?
What expectations or timelines have I created for my life that I need to hand back to God?
