Let’s talk about action movies, my current favorite genre. I love how the stories captivate and depict people trying to solve or successfully execute a crime. Usually, they’re stories of nations, families, or individuals who eventually have to surrender at some point, primarily to preserve their lives in the face of overwhelming odds.
The sadness is tangible, the defeat almost unbearable. We’re often left thinking, If only the story had taken a slightly different turn…
But have you noticed something about these stories? The original plan, the one that gets abandoned, was usually the best. It’s the plan the people believed in, but circumstances forced them to settle. To survive for another day. It’s a painful picture.
Surrendering is often the least preferred and, hopefully, avoided option.
As a believer, what comes to your mind when you hear the word “surrender”?
Does it bring images of defeat? Of giving up or settling for less because circumstances left you with no better choice. Does it evoke feelings of loss, defeat, or even resentment?
I used to think of surrender as a bitter end. A forced compromise. This perception can influence how we approach our faith in God. We may feel as though God is overriding our dreams, like He is some kind of celestial bully demanding submission.
But what if we’ve got it all wrong?
The truth is that surrendering to God isn’t a bitter defeat, it’s a joyous exchange. Think about it.
We make our plans based on limited knowledge from our narrow perspective of the world and of ourselves. But God, who is infinitely greater, sees the entire picture. His plans for us aren’t just good; they’re infinitely better than anything we could craft on our own.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Surrendering to Him isn’t about giving up the “best” we’ve got. It’s about letting go of our lesser plans so we can step into His greater purpose.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” -Isaiah 55:9 (NIV)
God is a loving Father, guiding us toward what He’s prepared for us, a plan rooted in His perfect love and unmatched wisdom.
Imagine this:
Your child is clinging tightly to their favorite snack, refusing to let go, even though it’s already bad. You, on the other hand, want to take it away to trash it and replace it with something fresh and nourishing. To make your child happy and healthy.
That’s what surrender looks like sometimes.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?…How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” -Matthew 7:9–11 (NIV)
Allowing God to lead us into His best, irrespective of the plans we might have prepared for ourselves, is surrendering in its truest form. Scripture admonishes us to
“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.”-Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
So let’s change our mindset about the word “surrender”.
Instead of associating it with sadness, let’s see it as a path to victory, receiving God’s very best. Know that when we surrender to God, we’re not giving up. We’re partnering with Him. We’re aligning ourselves with His will, stepping into the best version of our lives.
Also, instead of dwelling on what we’ve let go of, we should focus on the amazing story God is writing for us. His plans bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose we could never achieve on our own.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” -Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
So, if you feel there are areas you need to surrender today, just do it. No matter how elaborate and realistic your plan may be, it can never be better for you than what God is calling you into.
Have a beautiful week ahead, partnering/surrendering to God.
Timi Ayodele
IG: timii.loveslife