When I think of surrender, there are two scenarios that go through my mind. One of them is an image of a soldier (usually from a pre-Civil War movie, of which I watch very few) going out to the enemy, all alone, carrying with him the white flag. I picture him dreading this job, feeling as though it's dishonorable and pathetic to be the guy carrying out the flag (or the guy that made the decision to do so). I think of all the things running through his mind as he waves the flag--all of the fears and emotions he feels. He must despise what he is doing at that moment.
The second scenario that comes to my mind is that of an average person. Many people, especially in our American culture, don't have the privilege of knowing how to manage their time and life, so they keep trucking along frustrated and overwhelmed. And many more people are going through circumstances that they wish they didn't even have to think about. I think about these people and imagine that they must wish they had a white flag with them. They probably want to just collapse at the feet of any person who could take away their problems or help them in the slightest.
Surrender. It's not a popular action. And because it's so unpopular, we--humans--make such a huge deal about it. We think about all that goes into surrender and what happens afterward. And even though we might wish all of our problems away, sometimes we would rather deal with them than worry about what would happen after giving it all up.
I laugh at this. I laugh because I've been there, time and time again. Jesus didn't say, "Come, follow Me. They're going to throw a fit when I roll into town; but you? Nah! They'll leave you alone. The devil? Psh, don't worry about him. It's not like you need armor to protect yourself or anything!" Can I get a witness!
Jesus has already paved the way for us. It's not going to be easy (in a natural way). But He is everything we need, when we need it. So why wouldn't we just look to Him to help us out? He already knows what's coming: what we'll do, what will happen. The decision to surrender our everything to God (drama, attitudes, trials, treasures, broken hearts, offenses, shame) only seems big because we're looking at all the stuff we're giving Him, instead of just looking at Him. He's ready to take it all on. Actually, He already took it on at the cross. He's now just waiting for us to realize it so He can fill our hands with better things.
When we can stop looking at what we've got our hands full with and just life them up to the Most High God who's got our backs, then we've surrendered. When we let our problems go and seek God to fill us with new and better things, then we've surrendered. When we daily remind ourselves, and the devil, who and whose we are, we've surrendered. It only seems hard when our perspective is off. It's time for a shift. I know I need one!
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