Rest in Surrender

Surrender is one of the hardest lessons in the Christian walk. We live in a world that praises independence and control, yet God continually invites us into something different. He asks us to lay down the things we cling to and trust Him with what we cannot see.

Letting go does not come naturally. For much of my life I found comfort in planning every detail and trying to hold everything together on my own. But those seasons always left me drained, anxious, and quietly wondering why my heart still felt so heavy. It was not until I whispered “Lord, I trust You more than I trust myself” that I began to experience the peace Scripture promises.

Learning to Trust God’s Hands

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

These verses carry a truth I have had to live out in very real ways. There were times when everything felt uncertain—finances, health, relationships, even my sense of direction. My natural instinct was to hold tighter and try to figure it out, but God was gently calling me to release it into His hands.

I remember when I became a homeowner in my early twenties. On the outside it looked like such a blessing, but behind the scenes it took prayer, patience, and sacrifice to even make it happen. During COVID, when stimulus checks were being sent out, I chose to save while many around me were spending freely. As a single mom, I held tightly to the goal of buying a home, with Isaiah as my motivation. 

Even after the move I carried the weight in my own strength, worrying about bills, decisions, and whether I could keep it all together. I tried to manage it on my own but the more I did the heavier it became. It was only when I began to pray over my home, not just for financial provision but for it to be filled with peace, that I realized God never intended for me to handle it alone. He was waiting for me to invite Him in.

Surrender Is Not Losing

In our culture, surrender feels like defeat. In God’s kingdom, surrender is the doorway to freedom.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28–30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When I think about the times I refused to let go, I see how heavy life felt. I was carrying burdens I was never meant to hold. Surrender did not mean the circumstances immediately changed. It meant I stopped trying to fix them alone. And in that exchange, God gave me rest.

The Beauty in His Timing

One of the hardest places to surrender has always been timing. Whether waiting for healing, waiting for marriage, or waiting for prayers to be answered, it often felt like God was too slow. Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Looking back, I see now that His timing was always better than mine. When I prayed for friendships, He slowly removed the ones that were holding me back and brought people who reflected His heart. When I prayed for love, He did not answer right away, but in time He gave me a husband who makes me feel safe, supported, and cherished in ways I did not even know to ask for.

There is beauty in realizing that God sees the whole picture while we only see fragments.

Practicing Surrender in Daily Life

Surrender is not a one-time decision. It is a daily posture of the heart. Some days it looks like praying open-handed prayers over my family. Other days it looks like pausing in the middle of worry and releasing it back to Him.

You can begin by praying simple prayers of release: “Lord, I place this in Your hands.” Write down what you are clinging to and give it to Him. Choose silence and stillness even for a few moments, letting your heart remember who is truly in control. Practice gratitude by thanking Him for what He has already carried you through.

Surrender is not about losing. It is about gaining the peace that only God can give. Every time I have let go—in motherhood, in relationships, in my health—I have found Him to be faithful. He does not promise ease, but He promises His presence.

Reflection: What area of your life feels the heaviest right now, and how might God be inviting you to place it back into His hands?