Afraid To Surrender!

BEING HONEST

“I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Jesus I surrender, I surrender all.” Did you sing that as you read it? I sang it as I typed it! Most of us know this song and have sung it more times that can be counted. There are many songs that are pointed toward giving ourselves away to God. We sing about not clinging onto our lives and the things that encompass it.

I have always had trouble singing songs like these. This is because I don’t want to lie to God. To be honest, I don’t always feel like I want to or can fully surrender all. So, to tell Him things such as, ‘I give myself away,’ or even ‘Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders” is difficult for me. Really, I like having borders!

However, we are to surrender all to Him. This is a grace from the Lord. When we surrender, He takes all of our burdens. He washes us, on the inside, from the things that are not pleasing to Him. He begins to make us even more like Christ. Surrendering to God is Safe!

WHY SURRENDER?

When we surrender all of our burdens onto the Lord, there is a freedom in us. The weight that once burdened us is lifted. Christ’s death paid for our freedom. He tells us to bring Him all that bothers us.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Sometimes we tend to not think in concrete ways when reading truths like this. At least for me, these kinds of truths become ones I agree with but don’t actually do anything with, practically. When we obey this, Jesus said we will have rest!

STORY PICTURE

Imagine a woman walking on a long journey, with all of her baggage. She is moving slowly and is tired, and weary. A safe person rides by and tells her to hop in and to throw her heavy baggage into the car. She gets in and throws the baggage into the back.

However, during the ride, she begins to take some of her belongings from the back to sit on her lap. She needs to make sure she is in control of those. Also, with one hand, she hangs on to the rest of her baggage just to make sure it’s still there.

The driver says, “What are you doing, don’t you know there is plenty of room back there for all of your baggage? “Yes, she replies, but I need to make sure I hold on to the ones that are most precious to me.”

LACK OF TRUST

Can you find yourself relating to this woman? I have been this woman so many times. God invites us to bring all of our burdens to Him. I do it, though I sometimes keep some of it to myself. Why do we do this? It is a lack of trust in our God. We really don’t believe He is safe. We don’t believe He will take ‘good care’ of our baggage.

We can see how the woman had missed the whole point of throwing her baggage into the back. But, look at your life. When you say “I surrender all,” are you really surrendering all? Are you exposing your entire heart to Him? All of the locked doors, the things hiding underneath your bed, the stuff shoved into the closets of your heart…are you really willing to surrender all of that?

HE CARES

This is a truth we believe, in theory. I know God cares for me! I see the cross, and all He has done for me. I am guessing you are the same. You know God cares for you. Still, I find that my actions contradict what I say. However, when I truly think of His goodness, and His immeasurable love for me, trust rises!

The issue is our trust in Him! We feel like we can do a better job managing our mess. Let’s call it what it is! You feel so worn, and His hand is reaching to help you. If you can trust your Lord with your soul for salvation, trust Him with this!

HOW

This is not a one-time event! This is a daily, sometimes hourly, surrender! We have to lift our eyes to the one who looked at us first and ask Him to help us surrender. We can’t do it without Him. Even the wanting to surrender, while feeling unable to, can be a burden.

We must do what we always will have to do when we are in need. We run to Jesus! We ask Him to work in us. We ask Him to gives us the ‘want-to’ to give it all to Him.

We ask Him to strengthen us in faith, by His Holy Spirit. We must lean on Him to help us obey Him. The one who died for you is the same one who has offered to carry your burdens. Are you going to tell Him, “No, I have it…but thanks?”

We must ask God to give us enough faith in Him that will allow us to surrender all. It is all about Him. He calls us, He sanctifies us, and He helps us obey Him (Romans 8:30). He is then glorified for all of the good in our lives. We can’t boast in anything!

HIM GLORIFIED

When we throw our cares on Him, His power is clearly seen. His perfect love for us is displayed. Our hearts will love Him more. Our faith will grow. Our lives will be a testament to our glorious God before those who don’t have Him in their life. 

When you are heavy from your burdens, and you bring them to God, (leaving them there) your life will reveal the promise of the verse below.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

You will have a peace that passes understanding. Not just your understanding, but it will pass the understanding of those around you! Christ’s strength and love will be on display for those who don’t personally know the Lord.

GETTING PRACTICAL

As I mentioned before, I agree with sermons and Scripture, but it is hard for me to practically live them out. When it comes to our topic of surrender. Think of a specific burden. Yes, right now! How has this thing weighed you down? Have you given it to the Lord? If you have, do you find yourself placing some of it back onto your lap? 

Are your hands still clinging to a part of it? That very thing you have in mind, ask the Lord to help you fully surrender it. You are little and frail! Can you picture a weak and fragile you, with these burdens, standing next to a victorious Christ? That is what we are doing when we deny His offer of helping us.

I will be honest, there are things in my life that I just don’t feel like I can surrender FULLY to the Lord, even right now. So, my prayer has been that He will give me the trust that I need so that I can give it to Him. I am relying on Him to help me do what He has called me to do. This is the Christian life- depending on Christ for every single detail of our lives.

Blessings