Scripture Readings:
• Proverbs 3:5–6 (“Trust in the LORD with all your heart…”)
• Romans 12:1 (“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God…”)
• Matthew 16:24 (“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself…”)
Brothers and sisters in Christ, imagine for a moment standing on the bank of a great river. The current is strong, the water moving swiftly toward its unseen destination. You have two choices: you can fight against the flow, exhausting yourself in futile resistance, or you can step into the water, lean into the current, and let it carry you safely downstream. Today, I want to speak with you about the profound, life-changing act of surrender—what it means to release our grip on life’s oars and trust the River of God to carry us where we need to go.
As followers of Jesus, we are called not merely to add Him as a companion, but to place Him at the very center of our journey. Yet so often we cling to our own plans, to our own agendas, resisting the gentle invitation of the Lord to let go. This morning, through the light of Scripture and the wisdom of the Christian tradition, we’ll explore how full surrender leads to true freedom.
At first glance, “surrender” can sound like defeat. In our fallen world, to surrender is to concede, to lose control. But in the economy of God, it is quite the opposite. Surrender is the doorway to blessing, the entrance to intimacy with Christ. Jesus Himself defines this paradox in Matthew 16:24:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Notice that He does not say, “If anyone would come halfway.” He says “deny yourself,” which is a full-on relinquishment of our self-will and self-righteous aspirations. And yet, what looks like a loss is, in God’s hands, the very means of our victory.
Take the example of Abraham. When God called him to leave his homeland and go to a place he did not know, Abraham “went, as the Lord had told him” (Genesis 12:4). He surrendered his country, his comfort zone, even his sense of safety. Out of that radical obedience, God built a covenant, a promise that changed the course of human history.
Proverbs 3:5–6 urges us:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Surrender begins with trust. We must release our limited understanding and acknowledge that God sees ahead of us. When we hold tight to our own plans, we operate out of fear and self-reliance. But when we surrender, we shift from fear to faith, from planning every detail to acknowledging the One who holds all details in His hand.
Consider a child learning to ride a bicycle. As long as the child clenches the handlebars in fear, the ride will be wobbly and full of stops. But as soon as that child learns to relax, lean into the turns, and trust a helping hand, the journey becomes joyful and smooth. In our spiritual lives, God is that helping hand. He is beckoning us to relax our grip and trust His guidance.
The apostle Paul issues a stunning appeal in Romans 12:1:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
This is not a once-and-done event; it is a daily posture. To surrender is to offer ourselves—our ambitions, our comfort, our very lives—as living sacrifices. In Old Testament times, sacrifices died; but in Christ, our sacrifices live for the glory of God. Every decision, every relationship, every resource can become an offering when we surrender it to the Lord’s service.
Practically, this might look like turning off our devices at dinner to give full attention to family, or choosing generosity over self-preservation when someone approaches us with need. It might mean stepping out in faith to pursue a calling that scares us, trusting that God’s mercies are enough for every new step.
Surrender is not a dramatic one-time event. It is the bread and butter of the spiritual life—an ongoing, moment-by-moment choice. Here are some practical steps to cultivate daily surrender:
I want to share two brief stories from our own congregation.
• Sara’s Career Decision. Sara prayed for months about a job opportunity overseas. Her heart longed for the adventure, but fear kept her in place. One evening, she read Romans 12:1 and sensed the Holy Spirit whisper, “Release it.” She applied, moved, and found not only new ministry but a deeper trust in God’s provision.
• David’s Addiction Struggle. For years, David battled an addiction he kept hidden. In a sermon on surrender two years ago, he decided to “bring it into the light.” With accountability partners and daily reliance on Christ, David has walked free and now mentors others in recovery.
Of course, resistance will come. The enemy wants us to believe that surrender equals weakness. But Scripture assures us that when we surrender, we actually exchange poverty of spirit for richness in Christ. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God is able “to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” Our feeble plans pale in comparison to His mighty work.
When doubts assail us, let us remember the example of Jesus in Gethsemane. He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even in agony, He surrendered. In that surrender, He secured our salvation.
Brothers and sisters, to surrender is not to drown; it is to swim in the current of divine love. It is to trade anxiety for peace, weariness for strength, and isolation for companionship with the Savior. This morning, will you step into the river of God’s grace and let Him carry you?
For some, it may mean a specific prayer: “Lord, I surrender my future. I surrender my finances. I surrender my relationships. I surrender my pride.” For others, it might be a silent, steady decision to trust rather than control each moment. Whatever your next step, know that God welcomes you into His flow, ready to guide, sustain, and bless.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we confess that too often we grip our lives so tightly that we cannot feel Your hand leading us. Today, we lay down our oars. We yield our plans, our fears, our dreams into Your capable hands. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may walk in daily surrender and find true freedom in You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Go forth this week, dear family, not as those who fight the current, but as those who rest in the River of Life. May God’s steadfast love carry you safely home. Amen.
