SURRENDER
When we see the English word SURRENDER we probably assume it means to give up, throw down our arms, admit defeat, and become prisoner of the enemy. Surrender seems like something not good for us. The word comes from an Old French word with the same definition. But surrender, in the spiritual sense, is not about defeat and retreat; it’s about following the direction and will of God. Surrender can mean to give up the things that are not good for us, throw down our sin, and TRUST in God with humility and meekness; it’s docility. It’s expecting that things will be okay when we do as God directs. It’s obedience with an expectation of security.
St. Alphonsus Liguori, in his amazing little work called Uniformity With God’s Will writes that “the greatest glory we can give to God is to do his will in everything.” St. Ignatius of Loyola’s famous prayer The Suscipe (which means RECEIVE in Latin) is just over fifty words long; very brief. It is about letting go, surrendering, and asking for help. These Saints do NOT teach us to give up or to be passive, but to open our hands with trust and take whatever God chooses for us.
When we surrender as the Saints suggest, we open a door into a whole new world of joy fueled by faith and confidence.
To surrender to God’s will is like riding on a tandem bicycle and letting Jesus steer—we are still asked to pedal. We still have to cooperate with Jesus and balance. We have to be engaged in the journey. But we don’t have to take the lead. The reality is: God is in control ANYWAY—it’s just an illusion that we are in charge of our own destiny. So, to live with a heart surrendered to Jesus is to be along for the ride, but letting him direct.
The greatest example we have of spiritual surrender is with Jesus himself. Jesus surrendered all his plans and desire to God the Father; ultimately surrendering his spirit to God. In every sense of the phrase, he placed himself willingly into the hands of the Father. His blessed mother Mary is also an MVP in the sport of surrender. She plainly told God “FIAT”, that’s the Latin term for “let it be” or “make it so.” Neither of them surrenders in the sense of admitting failure or weakness; rather it’s the exact opposite! They both lived fully in their purpose and destiny with amazing faith and heroic virtue.
To surrender to God’s will is not weakness, it’s spiritual strength. Surrender is more like YIELDING and uniting.
I have an ever-so wise Deacon buddy in San Antonio, Dcn. José. We were talking about this topic, and he said something that really stuck with me. “Crazy thing is—when you are in the passenger seat and not driving—you see more, you experience the scenery and trip in a totally different way: you are more relaxed, you can just enter a dialogue with the driver and not be distracted. But when YOU are the driver, the responsibility is on you. You make the decisions. You make the judgement calls. You HAVE TO BE alert and engaged. But when GOD is the driver, we can focus on the journey. We can focus on HIM.”
So what does this look like; to surrender to Jesus? To surrender is to pray about each decision that comes our way. To allow Christ to take our every thought captive. To take our every action to the foot of the cross to be judged. To constantly dialogue with the Holy Spirit about the events of each moment. It is to let go of selfishness, ease, comfort, and pride in order to embrace compassion, sacrifice, suffering, and humility. It is to quit being focused on what WE want and think and ask God for His opinion. Give Jesus the calendar and the map and let him determine the schedule and plot out the directions. Surrender is to step down from the throne and let Jesus be the king.
For a life in holiness, following the Way, we must learn to surrender our attachments, our pride, our anger, and all our sin. We surrender our own priorities, our own plans, and our own ideas. We surrender our habits, and schedule, and reputation. We surrender control. We surrender our very lives into the hands of God.
To surrender to God is to say, “Our Father…your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” It is to die to the self. Do the right thing even when we may not want to do it. So, my final sentence will correct the first sentence: surrender means to stand confidently, throw down our ego, admit God knows best, and become obedient to the Father.