Surrendering is often associated with giving up something against our will, or a defeated wave of the white flag after experiencing loss. But Biblical surrender is thankfully the opposite. The Biblical definition of surrender is relinquishing our own\ desires and embracing God’s plan for our lives. When we surrender something to God…a habit, a vice, a relationship, a dream, etc.…we always receive something better in its place. We receive freedom from bondage and control, and freedom to become better, freer versions of ourselves.
2 Corinthians 3:17 says “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom.” So, let’s say we surrender our right to feel happy 100 percent of the time and accept God’s leading to stay and fight for our marriage. Oh, we may decide to surrender to unhealthy eating or drinking habits. When we really say to the Lord, “Okay, I’m willing to try things your way now,” there’s always a sweet feeling of relief, despite the initial resistance and difficulty. When the fight to do or not do something against God’s will is over, the Holy Spirit takes over, enabling and empowering us to walk in His freedom.
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1. When We Surrender Something To God, We Receive Something Better In Return
1. When We Surrender Something To God, We Receive Something Better In Return
God never asks us to relinquish something or someone that isn’t for our good. God intentionally created each of us with a divine, perfectly timed plan in mind.
Psalm 23:6 says that God’s goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. He’s faithful, kind, and trustworthy. So, if God’s asking you to give up your co-parenting power struggle with your ex, or surrender a financial venture you just can’t let go of, remember that God sees the big picture.
It’s so easy to live shortsightedly, clinging to our current ways of life, but according to Psalm 37:8, God knows the exact number of our days here on Earth. If whatever he’s calling you to surrender feels uncomfortable or confusing, remember that he sees and cares about the entirety of your life. Something might need to be changed or removed for new growth and new opportunities. If the Holy Spirit is nudging you to surrender, He knows exactly what it will take for your highest, best self.
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2. Surrendering Will Radically Increase Your Trust In God
2. Surrendering Will Radically Increase Your Trust In God
Surrendering is necessary and beneficial, but it can be so difficult. Sometimes God asks us to surrender something close to our hearts, or something that’s been acting as a substitute source of comfort or security for decades, and it feels almost unnatural to give it up. One of the most beautiful benefits and consequences of surrender is the deep trust in God that always develops when we do.
When standing on the other side of surrender, in victory, we profoundly experience a new level of God’s faithfulness and goodness that ultimately leads to a more intimate relationship with Jesus. This is important because when our trust increases, our ability to obey and surrender naturally grows, leading to a more fruitful and powerful life with God. Our faith rises every time we say yes to God when feeling doubtful, scared, or resistant. And a faithful life is always abundant.
Related Resource: Jesus Is The Safest Person & Safest Place ft. John Eldredge
We can experience every wonder with Jesus. We can experience safety and refuge with Jesus. We can experience strength and power through Jesus. In such a disconnected and discontent world where anxiety swarms us, things fight for our attention, and real help is needed in the craziest of seasons, Jesus is the real answer, and healing and intervention are a real possibility! My friend John Eldredge joins me in today's episode to discuss this, and I pray it encourages you as much as it encouraged me. Like what you hear? Subscribe to Bought + Beloved with Kirby Kelly on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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3. Surrendering Cures Anxiety
3. Surrendering Cures Anxiety
The opposite of Biblical surrender is resisting or refusing to yield one's will to God's authority. When resisting God’s leading, we often cling to control, prioritizing personal desires over God's will, and ultimately, experience a feeling of distance from the Lord.
Anxiety and stress can rear their ugly heads in our lives, often without our awareness. When operating out of God’s will, we become dependent on our strength and wisdom, and ultimately, we become stressed, anxious, and burned out.
Whatever we’ve been resisting surrendering to is often not worth the toll this hyper-independence takes on our spirit. In my opinion, the single best perk to surrender is peace. We can truly let go of fearing and worrying about the future, and trust that God always honors and rewards obedience…even if it comes in a different form than we imagined or takes longer than we hoped.
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4. Surrendering Can Avoid Disaster
4. Surrendering Can Avoid Disaster
We can likely think of a time we “did things our way” instead of God’s, and watched our plans nearly implode. I’ve lived through enough misadventures now to know that when God asks us to surrender, He’s usually just trying to prevent heartache, health issues, wasted time, etc. When God asks us to lay something on the altar, it’s always so we can live abundantly.
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it fully."
This verse emphasizes that Jesus's purpose is to provide a life of fullness and abundance, contrasting with the thief's destructive nature. The enemy keeps us distracted and spiritually neutralized by vices, bad habits, wasteful endeavors, and shallow pursuits. God wants to free us from everything that holds us back so we can live more fully.
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5. Surrender Brings Beauty From Pain
5. Surrender Brings Beauty From Pain
Many of us often avoid surrender because it’s usually painful. No one likes unpleasantness and hardship, but God often prunes and refines us for our good. The popular Hillsong song called “New Wine” describes this perfectly. “In the crushing, in the crushing. In the pressing. You are making new wine. In the soil, I now surrender. You are breaking new ground.”
I’m not sure there’s a Jesus-follower on Earth who hasn’t had to surrender and endure growing pains to make it to the next level…whether in a relationship, career, creative or spiritual life. In our pain-avoidant culture, we of course tend to avoid and downplay any sacrifice, refrain, or loss, because it does nothing for our dopamine addictions and frankly just isn’t fun. But Godly pruning always leads to beauty and flourishing.
Related Resource: The Bestselling Christian Author Who Became an Alcoholic
Welcome to the Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic podcast! In the show's first episode, author and host Jon Seidl tells his detailed story of being the Christian who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around, isn't it? And the church seems to be OK with those stories, but what about the stories that are messy like Jon's? Like yours?
In an effort to break the stigma around addiction, Jon gets radically vulnerable about his personal journey of going from bestselling Christian author, to alcoholic, and then coming back to Jesus. How was he able to finally stop drinking after years of being stuck? What did rock bottom look like? What were the four steps he took to break free? It's all on the inaugural episode.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, share this podcast or follow Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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Originally published May 09, 2025.
