Why Life is So Much Sweeter When I Surrender to God
Inside: What if when I surrender to God, I became more like my true self? How does this intentional action, ultimately fulfill my greatest dreams? Life becomes a lot sweeter and joyful when I’m following God’s lead.
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My favorite ice cream is Chocolate Volcano from Culvers. If you don’t have a Culvers in your area, you are really missing out.
Chocolate ice cream with gooey hot fudge, brownie pieces, M&Ms and Oreo bits all mashed up together. It’s heaven in your mouth. When my local ice cream place had this on the menu for their daily scoop of ice cream, I had to stop. Bad days equaled good days if you get my drift.
Whenever my local ice cream place had this on the menu for their daily scoop of ice cream, I had to stop. After all, this treat would turn a bad day into a good day, if you get my drift.
Surrendering My Will
However, a few years ago, some tests results indicated that my body was having issues with gluten. Specifically, I was gluten intolerant and would have to give up anything that contained this.
Of course, I could continue to eat food with gluten, but risk further damage to my body. Therefore, I decided to give it all up.
As a result, no more chocolate volcano ice cream. Actually, no more cookies, cake or any bakery. I would either have to make my own or pay a higher price to enjoy a gluten-free version.
I had to submit to the fact that I couldn’t have it any longer. In other words, I knew it was something that I had to do even though it was an inconvenience. I disliked it.
Many times, I think I know what I should do. Don't I control the steering wheel of life? #controlfreak #control #letgo Share on XI want what I want and I don’t want someone telling me what I should do.
Surrender to God
What if in the act of surrender, we became more like our true selves? With this intentional action, we would ultimately fulfill our greatest dreams?
The only criteria, surrender:
- Let go of what I think I know.
- Release my understanding of what I thought was good.
- Open my hands and be led instead of thinking I have the control.
I heard this quote recently “The strongest position you can be in is complete surrender.” At first, disagreed with this quote, but when I wrestled with it for a day I changed my mind. This quote is actually in the Bible.
(2 Corinthians 12:9, GNT) But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak. I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me.”
I can only surrender fully when I am at the end of myself. When I realize I control nothing and I can stress and fuss but I can’t change anything. In those moments I understand that I am weak and God is powerful.
I yield to God’s power. It’s in complete surrender to God, I find myself. I am filled. I give up the need to control and get Christ’s power over me, isn’t this the meaning of surrender?
Our world urges us to be strong and self-reliant, but God wants us to admit that we are weak.
We can’t come to God when we are doing fine without Him. It’s when we accept that we aren’t doing ok that God becomes our all in all.
The seasons of life where I felt unsure, scared and like I was hanging on by threads are actually the seasons where God was most evident in my life. I was strong in faith and in His assurance, though bodily weak.
I could feel His presence and I felt secure. Even though life seemed to be unraveling, I was happy because of such an intimate relationship with my Savior.
Looking back, my faith grew when I was surrendered. I was the most peaceful and happy when I admit that I don’t have a handle on anything and I need God.
I need to daily admit my weakness and completely surrender to feel God’s peace and happiness.
Here is the sweetness in surrender.
I absolutely love this quote from your post: “Our world urges us to be strong and self-reliant, but God wants us to admit that we are weak.” Amen, sister! To admit weakness is to admit our need for Him, and He wants us to admit that need. In our weakness, God is glorified. And that’s what life is all about anyway!
Alison- you are so right, but sometimes it’s hard to ditch the pride.
Thank you for stopping!
Julie
We have to surrender all to God, no matter what!! Life is so much better when we allow him to carry our burdens!
Keisha- yes, life is better!
I recently gave up sugar so I feel you all the way. It is such a journey to give up stuff like this. I gave up sugar and am daily just surrendering my will.
Alice- Wow! You go girl!
Thank God He is always full of grace and always keeps his promises.
Erin- Yes, He is and does!
This last Sunday our Sunday school lesson was on the book of Philemon. Something unique in that book was that Onesimus thought that he would find freedom by being away from his master Philemon so he ran away. It was when he met Paul in Rome 1000 miles away who was a prisoner of the Romans and of Christ did he find true freedom. That was the day he surrendered completely.
Stephanie- thank you for sharing this!
Love this!! Surrender is so hard, but when we really let go, that’s when we find peace.
Heather- That is true!
Something that has become easier, but also more difficult as I grow. Surrender is sweet when we surrender to the One who surrendered His life for us.
Taylor- yes it is, but first we need to ditch our pride and become dependent!
Surrendering ourselves to God is so, so important and like you said should be done daily.
Kristi- Yes, it need to happen daily!
Loved this! Yes in a world that pressurizes you to be strong and self-dependent, we find it buzzard to completely let go off ourselves into His hands. But, as a Child of Faithful God this is the best that we can give ourselves. Adam’s first day was a rest day, a day of total belonging to God alone. He didn’t have to do anything because God already did everything for him In previous six days.
Ann- you’re right! I think learning to rest in God takes intentional action since it’s not our default.
I don’t eat sugar because it becomes too addicting for me. And during this lent I have given up gluten. There are days that are really hard!
Your post reminded me of the serenity prayer – God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.