It Starts with Surrender
Have you ever been in a season where you don’t know what to do? You’re unsure of what’s next and you feel the weight of the world to figure everything out. You have questions but not any answers. You're scared that if you make the wrong decision everything will go wrong. You're anxious because there is a sense of uncertainty. Well, this blog post is for you.
A few summers ago, I was walking around during pre-service prayer at camp. I’m sure you know the hype that camp has but these moments, before the service, were raw and God was really moving. I walked over to a girl who seemed extremely unsure of what was happening. It looked like she was carrying something so heavy but scared to put it down. I felt the Holy Spirit tell me to walk over to her and pray for whatever she asked me to. So, I put my hand on her shoulder, she turned to look at me and tears started to flood her eyes. As I hugged her, I asked, “Why are you crying? Can I pray for you?” She expressed to me very real things, a lot like the ones above.
As I prayed over her and encouraged her, other women eventually started to gather around and began to pray as well. It was a powerful moment. I got to experience a girl who had the struggles of so much on her shoulders, lay them down and surrender them to Jesus. A girl who was desperate to just tell someone what was going on in her life. A girl who wanted nothing more than to be loved by God. A girl who was scared that no one would care and then had so many people surround her in prayer. That moment changed me and caused me to see my relationship with God through a different lens. A better lens than before.
As I wrote in the beginning, there are so many struggles that we face day to day. It could be an interview you’re nervous for, a friendship you’re trying to mend, or even a life-changing decision you have to make. And honestly, it is so easy to just push those struggles and feelings down so far that no one sees them.
We like to focus on the things we are dealing with instead of looking to Jesus. Almost to a point where our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes out of focus and, at times, unclear.
The difficulties and feelings I mentioned previously are so vital to recognize. But, I will say that God is so much stronger than each struggle you face. You just have to surrender them to Him. Will they instantly go away? Probably not. But, God will begin to work amidst them and transform those hindrances.
Okay, so maybe you have already surrendered all your current struggles and the things you are facing to God. What’s next?
Pursue Jesus. Just pursue Him with all your heart and in every aspect of your life. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
You might be thinking, “I’ve been trying so hard to pursue God but it is not easy.” I want to say that I hear you. A relationship with Jesus is not always easy, but it is so worth it. Sure, most Christians will answer in a similar way to the words I just wrote. It is true though, the relationship with our Heavenly Father is what matters most and it has a powerful impact.
Now, maybe you’re so busy that setting aside time with God is not a top priority or reading your Bible feels like a drag. I’m here to tell you that if you just keep on pursuing Jesus, it will eventually get so much better. I cannot promise it will get easier, but you will become closer to God when you seek Him. And when you seek God, peace will fill your mind and joy will fill your soul.
It is so powerful that a daily surrender to God (Luke 9:23) will lead to a beautiful pursuit of Him. So, wherever you’re at in your walk with God, know that you can surrender your struggles to Him at any moment and begin pursuing Him with all your heart. And always remember, that it just starts with surrender. Whether you’ve known Jesus your whole life or are just reading about Him now - God is always there for you with His arms wide open.
