It may seem strange to hear this from a perfectionistic, highly organized, tidy control freak - but surrender to God is one of the most important things a Christian must learn.
My personality indicates that I should be last one writing about this, but I'm speaking from personal experience. In fact, I may have more perspective on the topic of surrender because of my tendency to control everything!
God has been helping me realize that it's time to let go. All of my careful plans, my biggest hopes, and deepest fears must be laid at the feet of my Savior. Too often, they remain clenched tightly in my fists.
Honestly, I don't want to release my future to the LORD's will sometimes. Sure, I pray that God will guide me in all that I do, and that I might glorify Him with my life.
It's easy for us to say that God is in charge of our lives, but when it comes right down to it, how much do we really let Him decide?
I'll admit it: I want a reliable formula, neatly mapped out, that perfectly accomplishes all of my goals. The "To-Do" list of my life is clearly outlined in my head. What happens, then, when circumstances prevent me from putting a perfect little check mark in one of the boxes on that list? I feel lost, confused, and even a bit frustrated at the turn of events. Why aren't things turning out the way I'd planned? I despair.
Well...because my plan isn't God's plan.
I am only now learning the true meaning of surrender in my life. And even though I'm beginning to grasp what it looks like, I still resist full surrender. Why don't I want to let God be in charge of my future? Following where the Savior leads is unpredictable. It's unreliable. It means letting go of the ideal future I think I've got all planned out.
But that's such a delusion when you really think about it! Who is more unpredictable, unreliable, fickle, changing, or powerless than a human being?
Instead, following where the Savior leads IS predictable: it means treading the narrow path of humility, self-denial, and surrender of one's own plans. It IS indeed reliable, because God is a reliable God. He always does what He says He will do!
Wow. My plans aren't all that dependable after all, are they? In reality, I'm not in control to begin with.
That's the root of the issue - we presume that WE control our lives, that WE determine our place in this world by our performance, or lack thereof, and that WE decide how our life will be lived.
Though we make choices throughout life that impact us, use our time in various ways, and have a certain responsibility to steward the life God has given us; ultimately, the very nature of God's sovereignty reminds us that we're not in charge.
At this point, I'm forced to sheepishly admit that it is completely foolish to think that I could run my life better than God. It's easy to be doubtful of His plans for my life. However, trusting God is not like jumping out of a plane, hoping that the parachute will work. It's not leaping blindly off a cliff, believing He'll be there to catch you. Releasing our plans to God's design sometimes feels like a trust fall into the great unknown.
No. Entrusting our time, our lives, and our future to an Almighty God is not blind faith - it's wise commitment of ourselves to the Sovereign LORD of the universe!
The right view of surrender, though, is much different. Trusting God's purpose for our lives is having the full confidence that God's ways are always higher than our ways and His thoughts always higher than our thoughts. Therefore, we can have great assurance that His plans are best.
Help me, LORD to finally let go of my own selfish ambitions, so I can truly live in freedom, trust, and surrender to You!
