There is a word that sounds hard but is truly peaceful, pleasant, and full of warmth. That word is surrender. We often think of surrender as losing something, like a soldier giving up in battle. But in God’s kingdom, surrender works differently. It is not about losing. It is an exchange. We give something to God, and He always gives us something better in return.
Think of what we get to give away. We can surrender our anxiety, our fear, our anger, and our selfish ways. These things do us no good. Holding onto anger has never made any of us proud. Worry has never fixed a single problem. Yet we cling to them as if they were treasures. God invites us to bring Him our junk, our burdens, and our broken pieces. In exchange, He gives us peace that passes understanding, strength to stand, and the fruit of His Spirit: love, joy, patience, kindness, and self-control.
Jesus himself shows us the path. He gave up His reputation. He humbled Himself even to death on a cross. And because of this surrender, God lifted Him to the highest place. We are called to have this same mind in us. When we lose our life for His sake, we find it. When we humble ourselves, He lifts us up in His perfect timing.
Some of the hardest things to surrender are our ways of thinking. Lies whisper that we are not good enough, that God loves others more than us, or that we will always fail. These thoughts shape how we live. But God says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” He is not intimidated by our mistakes. Jesus was enough to turn water into wine, to give sight to the blind, and to conquer death. He is more than enough for whatever we face today.
So we stand together, asking, “Lord, is there anything I am still holding onto?” Surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice. We take up our cross each morning and follow. And as we let go, we find rest for our souls and confidence in a God who always gives back something far greater than what we offered Him.