Discovering Freedom in Surrender

As we head into June—when hurricane season and the rainy season begin here in Florida—I’ve been thinking about how worship, and especially Holy Communion, can anchor us. In a world where storms are literal, but also where life’s challenges can feel like relentless downpours, I want to invite you into a practice that gives us roots: gathering at the Lord’s table.

Worship That Grounds Us

Every week, I’m asked, “Mike, why is Communion so important to you? Why does our church celebrate it every single week?” My answer comes from looking back at the first fifteen hundred years of church history, when the Body of Christ was one and united. Back then, at the center of everything was worship—an encounter with the living presence of Jesus. The act of breaking bread reminded the early church that Jesus was always with them, even when they didn’t recognize Him on the road.

It strikes me that some of us feel very close to God, while others wonder if we can truly give everything over to Him—especially if life has left us wounded or disappointed. But when we come to the table, we remember that there are no barriers. Whether you feel unworthy, underqualified, or simply unsure, this is the victory table where Jesus welcomes all of us. You don’t need a membership card, a Bible-degree, or perfect faith to come. You only need to come with an open heart.

If you’re carrying something heavy—doubt, fear, anger, regret—take a moment now to lay it at the foot of the cross. Turn it over to God. When Jesus broke the bread and said, “Take, eat; this is my body, broken for you,” and then lifted the cup, “Drink of it, all of you; this is the cup of my salvation,” He was making a promise. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, you can come freely to this table and encounter Christ.

---

Wrestling with Surrender

After Communion, I shared a message on what I called “necessary surrender.” In my twenty-plus years of pastoral ministry, I’ve walked with people through cancer diagnoses, financial collapse, broken relationships, and terrible loss. And time after time, I’ve noticed that it’s not those who have all the answers who come through the storm with strength. It’s those who decide—again and again—to trust God even when they can’t see the outcome.

One story I often tell is about a woman rock climbing solo in Utah. She lost her grip and found herself trapped between two sheer walls, suspended with trembling limbs. She had a choice: cling in fear or let go and trust her training—and gravity—to carry her to a ledge below. She let go. Yes, she felt the fall, but she landed safely. Afterwards, she said, “The hardest part wasn’t the fall. It was the letting go.”

Letting go feels reckless in a culture that tells us to control our lives, fix our problems, and never show weakness. Yet surrender in our faith journey is not the absence of struggle. It’s a pathway through it. It’s being honest with God about our doubts and fears and still saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

---

When Jesus Surrendered

Look at Luke 22:39–46, where Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives (Gethsemane) on the eve of His crucifixion. He prays, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done.” In anguish, He sweats blood. He wrestles with God’s plan, yet ultimately submits. Even Jesus, fully divine, fully human, knew dread and fear. He knew what it was like to feel weak, abandoned, and afraid of the painful path ahead. And still, He chose to trust.

This tells us three things:

1. Jesus knows our pain. He feels our dread of the future, our weakness, and our sense of abandonment.
2. Surrender isn’t failure. Jesus didn’t stop struggling—He wept, He pleaded—but He never turned away from the Father.
3. Surrender is worship. When we let go and say, “Your will, not mine,” we’re not giving up; we’re bowing before the One who holds the whole story.

---

Why Surrender Feels So Hard

When I talk about surrender, I often get blank stares or comments like, “Just give it to God.” But if I’m honest, surrender is messy. Here are three reasons why we resist it:

1. Fear of the Unknown. We worry, “What if God asks too much of me? What if He takes away someone or something I love?” It’s easy to believe that letting go will bring loss, not gain.
2. Wounds of the Past. Many of us carry stories of betrayal, abandonment, and unanswered prayers. Our past pain can make it hard to trust a loving God.
3. Myth of Self-Sufficiency. Western culture glorifies independence. We’re told that needing help is weakness. In reality, our brains are wired for survival, not surrender. When stress kicks in, our limbic system floods us with adrenaline to fight, flee, or freeze—not to kneel in prayer.

Yet, while our culture says “Hold on tight, control everything,” the Kingdom of God invites us to a different kind of freedom. It says, “Trust Me with what you can’t fix and what you fear most.”

---

Walking with Jesus Through Every Storm

I’ve seen people face heartbreaking storms—cancer, financial ruin, prodigal children—and the ones who find strength aren’t those with perfect faith. They’re the ones who chose to trust Jesus in the midst of the unknown. C.S. Lewis captured this tension well: “We’re not necessarily doubting God’s goodness, we’re wondering how painful His best will be.” But Lewis also reminded us that letting God take over doesn’t make us less ourselves. It makes us more ourselves.

I think of teaching my little sister to ride a bike. I ran alongside her, encouraging, “Keep going, keep going.” At some point, I had to let go of the training wheels and let her pedal on her own. She wobbled. She fell. But she also discovered that she could do it. And she knew I was right behind her if she needed me. That’s exactly how God works. We may feel insecure, but God is there. He’s running alongside us, whispering, “Keep going.”

---

Practical Steps for Surrender

Surrender isn’t a one-time moment. It’s a rhythm, a lifestyle. Here are a few practices that have helped me:

1. Name What You’re Holding. Write down or speak aloud the things you’re trying to control—finances, relationships, your own reputation, or unresolved pain. Bringing these things into the light is the first step in handing them over to God.
2. Pray a Prayer of Surrender Daily. Jesus showed us in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Make that your prayer each morning. Something as simple as, “God, today I give You my time, my worries, and my plans—help me to trust You.”
3. Practice Letting Go in Small Ways. Let someone else lead a meeting. Accept a minor inconvenience with grace. If you’re a parent, trust your child to walk across the parking lot without you hovering. These small acts retrain our souls, teaching us that control isn’t everything.
4. Create Sacred Space. Silence, solitude, and stillness are vital. Schedule ten minutes each day to sit quietly, breathe deeply, and invite God’s presence. Jesus often withdrew to pray—follow His example.
5. Find Wise Counsel and Community. Surrender doesn’t mean isolation. We need friends who listen without judgment, speak truth in grace, and walk alongside us. Share your struggles with someone you trust.
6. Anchor Yourself in Scripture. Memorize verses like Proverbs 3:5–6—“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”—and Psalm 46:10—“Be still, and know that I am God.” Let these truths shape your thoughts more than headlines or social media.
7. Trust God’s Character. Ultimately, surrender flows from believing that God is good. Brennan Manning says God delights in our trust more than any grand cathedral. If you see God as trustworthy, you can hand over your fears, confident that He will catch you when you fall.

---

Choosing Trust Every Day

Surrender is not a one-time decision like a fork in the road. Sure, there are defining moments—like deciding to follow Jesus for the first time. But faith is not a single event. It’s a thousand daily choices to say “yes” to God, especially when it’s hard, painful, or confusing.

In the latest Mission Impossible film, Luther reminds Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise): “Our lives aren’t defined by any one action; they’re the sum of our choices.” Your spiritual life is the same. One bad decision or a painful past moment doesn’t define you. What defines you is the direction of your surrender—your ongoing “yes” to God, through struggle, with grace.

---

An Invitation to You

If you’ve been trying to hold tightly to control—whether that means micromanaging your schedule, your finances, your relationships, or your own emotions—today I invite you to let go. Not because life suddenly becomes painless, but because you can trust the One who holds tomorrow. God won our best when Christ died for us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). He doesn’t walk away when we stumble; He pursues us until we turn back to Him.

So ask yourself: Do I really believe that God wants the ultimate good for me? If you can’t answer “yes” with confidence, it’s okay. Bring your doubts to Him honestly. God does not shame or condemn you—He welcomes you home. Then choose trust again. Surrender is not your defeat; it’s your freedom.

May the practice of Communion remind you that Jesus meets you here. May your small acts of relinquishing control retrain your soul. May you root yourself daily in Scripture, in community, and in the character of a God who is good, even when life is stormy.

Go forth in this knowledge: God is walking with you. Every time you face a choice—to hold on or to hand it over—ask, “How can I trust You today, Lord?” And then, with humble courage, let go and let God.

Grace and peace be with you.

---