Hey friends!  Were you able to hear Pastor Scott’s sermon yesterday?  I loved it.  It really hit home for me and it was on a topic that I know I was good on. 😂  If you didn’t hear it, no biggie, just go to facebook and it’s posted there.  

As for this week’s motivation…

This morning when I woke up, I had a lot on my mind.  Nothing life changing or worth noting really.  Just things that I needed to do today.  For the record, it was a very average day.  Nothing big happened (which is usually GREAT news!).  But I wasn’t able to complete what I felt like was something I needed to accomplish.  No different than most Mondays.  But at 7:03am, I am making a mental checklist of trying to manage a week that hasn’t happened.  I am trying to control the future.  Does that resonate with you?  Let’s talk about it.

We can give one hundred percent at a job and it still may not be enough. We can extensively prepare for an important event and plans may still go awry. We can love and care for others and still be misunderstood, even hated. We can raise our kids to follow Christ and they can still walk away from the faith.  On a logical level, we can know that God is in control and we are not. Yet, how many of us tire ourselves out each day searching for answers and fighting for control over things that we physically can not change? 

What does it look like to honestly surrender to God when we’re scared and overwhelmed by what could happen?  Well, let’s be honest here.  Surrender feels like we are giving in or worse, giving up.  We think it’s a sign of hopelessness but as a christian, that can’t be further from the truth.  Surrender is an opportunity for dependence. It’s an opportunity to actively dwell in the reality of our own inadequacy. Jennifer, you are really selling it here.  🙄 But, surrender is recognizing that He is the omnipotent God, who works all things for good (and we are flawed, limited, sinful beings unable to save ourselves).  

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

Okay, so why is surrender so hard?  Well, there are three main reasons.  First, it’s a lack of knowledge- meaning, we know the answer better than anyone (yep, including God!).  Second, would be impatience.  We want it fixed NOW!  And third, we want it all pain free.  We don’t want to suffer through anything.  We just want to make it all go away as quickly as possible.  And bonus reason!  You have trust issues!  You don’t fully trust He has your back.

Why should we surrender?  It takes discipline.  Discipline is part of our walk with Christ.  Think about someone you trust.  That relationship is intimate.  Well, why would your relationship be different with God if you trusted Him? It strengthens that bond and forms intimacy.  Surrender isn’t something that is a maybe…it’s a must.  Especially in today’s world.  There are so many things that are beyond our control.

My Monday didn’t go as planned.  Let me rephrase that.  Monday didn’t go as I planned it.  It wasn’t a bad day.  It wasn’t a good day.  It was the day that God planned for me to have.  Instead of being disappointed, I should feel relieved.  Relieved to know that He is more than a safety net.  He’s our harness.  

Love you all,

Jennifer