Surrender
Blog post edited from a sermon preached in 2012.
Have you ever found yourself on a journey where you wanted to create something meaningful, whether it was visual art or music but you couldn't quite find the inspiration or the right approach? It can become frustrating to search high and low, far and wide, only to come up empty-handed.
The desire to have control over every aspect of the creative process starts to take over. We want everything to go according to our well-laid plans. Sometimes it hits us and we take a step back to let go. Somewhere in there is the epiphany that we might need to trust: in yourself? in the process? Yes - but ultimately, in God - and His ability to lead you along.
There are varying times during which the idea of ‘letting go’ becomes focused. It might be during lent or even in the midst of grief or loss. Inevitably, in life we are presented with opportunities to let go and give up certain things. It can be giving up particular foods such as during lent, or it can be giving up the idea of control or even the bitterness or resentment we have toward someone. These end up creating space in our lives and draw our focus towards God. Each act of letting go became an opportunity to surrender something to Him.
There is stories in the Bible that brings out this theme of surrender; stories of Moses, the widow in 2 Kings 4, and the feeding of the 5,000 teach us profound lessons about surrendering what we have in our hands.
Let's talk about Moses, a well-known figure in biblical history. His life can be divided into three distinct 40-year periods. In the first phase, he was a prince of Egypt, living a life of royalty with the best of everything. Moses thought highly of himself and believed he was somebody. But then, life took a turn, and he found himself in the desert. Hungry and thirsty, Moses realized that he was nobody without God. It was only when God called him back to deliver His people that Moses understood the incredible things God could do with a nobody.
When God called Moses, he made excuses and questioned his own abilities. But God reassured him and said, "Don't worry... I'll go with you." Moses asked, "Who will I say sent me?" God replied, "Tell them that 'I AM' sent you." "I AM" represented God's power and authority as the Provider, Counselor, Savior, Friend, and so much more.
Moses had a simple staff in his hand—a symbol of his identity, influence, and financial status as a shepherd. God told him to throw it on the ground, and it transformed into a serpent. Initially scared, Moses picked it up again, and it became a staff once more. This act may be a symbol of Moses surrendering his identity and calling to God. The staff only came to life when it was laid down before God. It was a powerful reminder that everything we are and represent remains lifeless until we surrender it to God.
In 2 Kings 4 we encounter a specific story of a widow. Her husband had passed away, leaving her with a mountain of debt. All she had left was a little bit of oil. It seemed hopeless, as the creditors were threatening to take her sons as slaves. But then, the prophet Elisha asked her a simple question, "What do you have in your home?" Her response? "Oil."
That little bit of oil may not have seemed like much, but it was important. It could be used for light, cooking, and anointing. Elisha instructed her to gather as many jars as she could, close the door, and fill them with oil. Miraculously, the oil multiplied, allowing her to pay off her debt and live off the rest. The key here is that the oil multiplied as it was poured and used. It was only through surrendering and letting go of what she had that the miracle happened.
“Surrender is not just for our own benefit; it’s for the breakthrough of the community”
Finally, we arrive at the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus had been ministering and healing the sick all day, and as evening approached, His disciples approached Him with a problem—people needed food, and all they had was a boy's lunch of 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. It didn't seem like much, but the boy surrendered his meager meal to Jesus. And what happened? Everyone was satisfied, and there were even leftovers!
The lesson here is that surrender isn't just for our own benefit; it's for the breakthrough of the community. We need to move away from being ego-centric and start thinking about others. It's not about what we have in our hands; it's about what God can do with it when we surrender it to Him. The 5,000 were fed because the boy let go of his lunch. Surrendering what we have in our hands paves the way for God's plans to reach and bless many.
Surrender leads to life.
When we surrender all that we are and have to God, He breathes life into it and transforms it into something powerful.
Surrender leads to provision.
The little we have left multiplies and replenishes as we surrender and give it away.
Surrender leads to community breakthrough.
When we let go of what we have, God can work through us to impact the lives of many.
Ask yourself, "What do I have in my hands?" Are you willing to surrender it to God? When we surrender and let go, God can do amazing things with what we have.
