9  For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9 (ESV)

Surrender is:

a. the goal for your enemy at the end of a conflict

b. the name of the song that helped catapult the band Cheap Trick to superstardom

c. how we find strength in God

OK… the answer is all of the above. But, for what we’re talking about today, let’s focus on answer c.

Surrender isn’t easy.  It means laying ourselves aside – our goals, our plans, our egos, our anxieties – and submitting fully to God and His will.

Simple? Yes.  Easy?  Well… that’s something completely different, isn’t it?  But… surrender is entirely necessary if we are going to seek His help, guidance and peace.

We all face challenges that appear insurmountable.  Stress, work, home, family, relationships, etc…  A lot of us like to think we have it all under control.  We rely on our own strength until, one day…

SPLAT!

Life hits the proverbial fan.  Things go south.  Circumstances change for the worse.  And we discover just how little control we have in life.  We find how vulnerable we really are.  We see that none of us truly possesses the capability to handle life on our own.

The good news: we don’t have to.  We need to look to the Lord.  We need to seek God continually.  We need to ask Him for His strength.  As a dear friend of mine put it, “Sometimes you need to go to Him hourly.  Sometimes the pain is so great that you need to ask Him, ‘Lord, please get me through this hour.”

Know this:  God is with you.  His Holy Spirit is inside you.  He is your strength.  He is your redeemer.  He is your salvation.  He is your help in time of need.  Perfect love casts out all fear, and God is perfect love.

For those who believe in God through His Son Jesus Christ, there is never a need for fear and anxiety.  We are not weak because He is strong!  He is with each of His children – always.  He has promised to never leave us, never abandon us, never forget us.

There is nothing wrong with going to God in tears, with fears and worries and doubts.  Take them to Him.  Cast them upon Him.  Ask for His strength.  Seek Him in prayer and His Word.

Surrender all to the Lord.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7 (ESV)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:1-7 (ESV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:6-10 (ESV)

“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” – Psalm 50:15 (ESV)