Why Don’t You Want To Surrender Everything To God?

Have you ever felt resistance to surrendering everything to God? You are not alone. For most, it is a challenge to relinquish our hopes, expectations, and desires; after all, the Lord might have other plans than what we desire. Add unexpected circumstances, and it may feel impossible. But why don’t you want to surrender everything to God? After all, don’t you want God’s will for your life?

Why We Resist Surrendering Everything to God

We may desire God’s will yet still resist giving everything to God for numerous reasons. Uncovering why we hold back is vital to learning how to surrender everything to God. Perhaps a few from this list will resonate with you.

Fear of the Unknown 

Surrendering everything to God means stepping into the unknown and trusting in His provision for our lives. The mystery can be a daunting prospect for those of us who may prefer to have a designated plan for our destiny. Letting go of our plans and desires and trusting that God has something better in store can elicit all kinds of fear so we might stay in our comfort zone and not risk following Jesus’s plan. 

Do you ever let fear get in the way of surrender?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9 NIV)

Unwillingness to Give Up Control

Human nature inherently craves control, seeking to navigate life according to personal whims and desires. Surrendering can feel like we are giving up our power, even though the truth is that letting God be in charge will empower us in ways we can not fathom.

Have you ever noticed when challenging, unexpected events occur, panic can sometimes set in, and the desire to control anything we can takes over? Surrendering to God involves relinquishing this control, which can evoke increased fear and discomfort in the moment. To read a story of my failed attempt to control in the midst of the unexpected and a verse printout, tap here.

Do you tend to cling to control when life is out of control? I certainly do.

Self-Reliance and Pride

If you are used to being the leader of your life, letting Jesus take the lead might be a struggle. After all, our culture has taught us to follow our own path, make decisions independently, and do what is best for us, which isn’t all bad. Yet, it is easy to become attached to our self-reliance and independence and push God aside until we hit a bump in the road. 

Pain and Disappointment 

When God allows pain to pass through our lives, we may find it challenging to trust in Him and surrender to His will. We may wonder if He is a good God. Feelings of anger, bitterness, or resentment may creep up and prevent us from fully surrendering everything to Him.  

Honesty with Jesus is of the utmost importance and is bound to bring the intimacy needed for trust to grow. God has big shoulders, so go ahead and let it out. Also, remembering what He has done in the past will help. 

Lack of Trust

Surrendering everything to God requires deep trust in His goodness and faithfulness. When we make a reasonable request to the Lord, which appears to go unanswered, this can shake our faith in Him. Our next article in the series will explore what it means to trust the Lord in the unexpected. 

When God’s Voice is Distant

We all experience ups and downs on our faith journey where we feel distant from God. In these times, it may be hard to hear his voice. Go through the steps anyway to surrender while strengthening your faith and drawing closer to Him. 

Fear of Judgment

What will people think if I do this outlandish thing that God has asked? The fear of being judged by others can deter us from fully surrendering to God. 

Once, God asked me to do something unthinkable that appeared unloving to the outside world. I remember the call from a friend begging me not to go through with the plan. Her cries of “How could you?” penetrated my heart as she judged me to be a bad person. Yet, God knew the big picture. 

Fear of Incompetence

Sometimes, we hear God loud and clear, yet we refuse to surrender because we lack confidence in our abilities. However, God doesn’t make mistakes. 

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phillipian 4:13 NIV)

Embracing Surrender

Surrendering everything to God requires a leap of faith, trust, and a willingness to let go of control. In our last article, “The Best Thing to Do When Life is Difficult,” I shared about placing our burdens in the “Moses Basket” and letting God have them. Still, there is so much more to surrendering and letting God lead your life, trusting that His plan is greater than our own and will lead us where we need to go. 

Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.

― C.S. Lewis

We can learn to let go and let God have it all. Of course, it takes practice to loosen our grip; however, with each success, we will unlock a deeper sense of peace, freedom, and alignment with our true purpose that comes from trusting God’s plan.

A Challenge:

Today, I challenge you to answer the question, Why don’t you want to surrender everything to God? Then, take a step towards surrendering something and witness the transformative power it can bring to your life. 

It is never too late to set a spiritual goal. If you have a world or a spiritual goal for the year please share it with us.

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