NEW THING – SURRENDER
“Let go… so He can lead.”
sur·ren·der / səˈrendər /
verb — to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; to submit to their authority.
When we think of surrender, we often imagine weakness — waving a white flag in defeat. But in God’s kingdom, surrender isn’t about giving up power…it’s about walking in power when we yield to the right One.
True surrender is not loss; it’s alignment. It’s the moment we release our grip and allow God to do what only He can — strengthen us through humility and lead us into peace.
“The recognition that there is Someone greater I must surrender to, in order to become stronger, is priceless.”
Surrender in Marriage: Learning to Yield
In my own walk, God used my marriage to teach me what surrender truly means.
“In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.”
— 1 Peter 3:1–2 NLT
That verse was a lot to live up to. I remember constantly praying,
“Lord, help me not say what I’m thinking.”
“Holy Spirit, fix my tone.”
“God, help me do better this time.”
I was striving — doing my best to act right, think right, and speak right — but it was still me trying to do it in my own might. And it was exhausting.
Until one day, the Holy Spirit whispered:
“Surrender your striving.”
That changed everything.
The Shift from Striving to Being
As I surrendered, I realized something powerful: God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — the very Fruit of the Spirit I was trying so hard to produce.
Once I stopped trying to do these things and started allowing His Spirit to be these things in me, everything shifted.
“Through Him, I could be love, joy, peace…instead of just trying to do them.”
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
— Galatians 5:22–23 NLT
The Bike Lesson: From Learning to Living
It reminded me of learning to ride a bike. I tried — and fell. Over and over. Until I finally asked my father for help. He held me, guided me, and taught me step by step.
Eventually, I didn’t need him to tell me how to ride — I knew. But that didn’t mean I stopped needing him. When I rode farther than ever before and came home sore, tired, and thirsty, I went back to him for guidance and rest.
That’s what it’s like with our Heavenly Father. Even when we’ve learned the basics, we still need His wisdom for the journey — for the next stretch of the road, the rocky trails, the moments of exhaustion.
Surrender doesn’t end at salvation — it deepens with every ride.
From Basics to Depth
“If the Spirit is the source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives.”
— Galatians 5:24–25 TPT
There comes a point when God invites us beyond the basics — beyond just trying to be patient or kind — into a mature walk of daily surrender.
“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.”
— Hebrews 6:1 NLT
Surrender is not a single moment. It’s a lifestyle — a posture of the heart that says, “Not my will, but Yours.”
The Promise of Surrender
Just as God promised Israel victory even in their rebellion, He promises the same for us. Even when we resist, His grace remains.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!
Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
— Isaiah 43:19 NLT
Why fight battles we were never meant to fight alone? Yes, trials refine us — but surrender lightens the load.
“We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for they help us develop endurance.”
— Romans 5:3–4 NLT
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28 NLT
The Ongoing Invitation
Surrender doesn’t guarantee ease, but it guarantees presence — His presence.
It means letting go of control, of old patterns, of self-reliance, and letting the Spirit guide.
As you yield, God will create your pathway through the wilderness and rivers in your dry places.
He will refresh, renew, and replenish.
All that’s left for us to do is… surrender.
Surrender our thoughts.
Surrender our ways.
Surrender our striving.
Look to Him — and be refreshed.
🌿 Reflection
What area of your life have you been striving to control, that God is asking you to surrender today?
Pause. Breathe. Release. Let Him lead.
✨ Join the Journey
If this message spoke to you, follow along at Doing Life Anew — where faith meets freedom, and surrender becomes strength.