What’s Beyond Surrender?
In mentoring younger men, I find myself talking about ‘surrender’ a lot.
The word comes from “Old French” and dates back to the 1400’s. It first meant “to give (something) over” or “give back”. A hundred years later, it started being used in a military sense, like a prisoner might “give himself up.”
Thus when we think about surrender, we picture tattered, bloodied, worn-out soldiers in war movies. Surrender is never their idea. It’s always after something bad happens and it’s always to bad guys. Ambushed, surrounded, to resist is certain death. Hands go in the air, weapons drop to the ground. Soldiers give over their will to the will of the other guys. They give up control. By surrendering, they yield their freedom in exchange for their lives.
Maybe one of the reasons it’s hard for us to “surrender our lives to Christ” is because of these pictures.
Maybe we should go back to the original use of the word….to “give yourself over”.
And maybe we should remember who we’re “giving ourselves over” to… an omnipotent, loving Father. We’re not surrendering to God, the enemy. We’re “giving ourselves back” to the One who created us in the first place.
But what happens after surrender? After we surrender specific issues and situations?
Christ-followers surrender stuff to God pretty easy. We surrender our sick and dying to God. “Your will be done” we pray. We surrender our messed-up marriages. We ask Him to take over our prodigal children when we have no clue what to do next. Money is about the last thing we surrender because it works the opposite way. We like money because it gives us a sense of power. We’re powerless on the other stuff. Glad to surrender it.
Suppose we surrender and it doesn’t go well. What if the tumor grows? The prodigal child stays prodigal? The foreclosure still happens? What then?
Say thank you. As soon as you can, thank God for it.
You’re kidding, right?
Not kidding.
When we surrender to an all-powerful, all-knowing, all loving, all good God, whatever comes our way is for our good. It may hurt. It may even kill us. But when we see things from the long view God sees, we can say ‘thank you’ and keep going. It makes no common sense, but a lot of things about a supernatural God go beyond common sense.
Four years ago, I was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. I surrendered it to God from the get-go. Last week I finally thanked Him for it.
Without this disease, I wouldn’t have jacked up my efforts to get other men to be mentors. I wouldn’t have gone to New Zealand and fished with my son. I wouldn’t have the little sign in my kitchen reminding me to “Savor” every day, every meal, every relationship.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m no martyr. No spiritual giant. Thanking Him was His idea, not mine. I just obeyed. I was sitting with a friend who has all kinds of family issues when that ‘still small voice’ said “Thank me for your lung disease.” I thought about it until I got home and then I just did it. I discerned it was God prompting me…prompting me to thank Him for what I couldn’t ever imagine thanking Him for.
I can’t tell you today what it all means. All I know is that since I thanked Him I’ve been closer to Him. Maybe I was taking a ‘wait and see’ approach to see if surrender was going to bring me health…..or death. Since I obeyed and thanked Him, it seems less important. I’m even more grateful for each day He let’s me live.
Thanking God for what we’ve surrendered before we know the outcome requires faith only He can provide. Faith in a God we know is good no matter what happens.
Question: Is there something you’ve surrendered He wants you to thank Him for? If you’d like to comment, please do so here.
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Responses (8)
What fabulous insight! That surrender word conjures up failure and defeat instead of the joy we find by joining Him in His endeavor rather than battling God and satan trying to “have it all”, and all of it our way.
Thank you, Regi.
You’re welcome Pat. Glad it spoke to you.
Funny thing. This morning, I prayed that I will surrender more of me than I have ever considered surrendering in the past. To really go deep in relationship with my Father in Heaven. To be aware of Him in every circumstance of life. Then I read this post.
Gratefulness – It really is what Regi lives out and it really is where we can see the events in our lives intersecting with the all powerful, all knowing God who loves us with ALL of Himself.
Way cool J.D. Remember this one? “The only sure cure for anxiety is a grateful heart”. Your encouragement is appreciated my friend.
Thank you for this Regi. Thank you for sharing your heart and being so vulnerable in this post. This post gave me perspective for some idsues our family are managing right now! It’s all about surrendering!
You’re welcome Brian. Remember…He’s God and you’re not. Trust Him!
Hey Regi! A friend of mine recently turned me on to your blog. I have only been reading for a few weeks, but I’ve loved every post I’ve read so far. You’re a great writer and you really make the truth’s of God’s word come alive.
I became the campus pastor of our church’s first multisite campus a few months ago and recently had the opportunity to share my story with our campus before our baptism service. The big idea of the message was, “Going all-in with Christ is not a one time decision.” and I framed my testimony around the F.O.M.O disease you recently wrote about. God really used that message and 10 people gave their lives to Christ!
I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your journey and wisdom with us each week. It is making a difference!
Wow Jason, you made my day….no my week….no, my month…. Thank you! I’m constantly amazed how God uses folks like you to affirm what He’s doing in, with and through me. Thank you so, so much for taking the time to share that. You’ve made a man feel very grateful for His Heavenly Father’s love.