Trusting God with What You Have Already Surrendered - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 18

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Trusting God with What You Have Already Surrendered
By Hannah Benson

Bible Reading:
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (Psalm 37:3-6 ESV)

Have you ever prayed, “Lord, help me to surrender?” We all have things we need to surrender daily to the Lord. Our hopes and dreams for the future, our plans, our calling, relationships, and the list goes on.

I’ve been in a season where my continual prayer has been one of surrender, which isn’t necessarily wrong. As I said, the prayer of surrender and the heart that gives everything to Jesus must be renewed day by day. Surrender is a daily choice to give it to Him.

A few months ago, I was walking around our yard after work, as I often do to clear my mind. I found the same words leaving my lips that I’ve prayed for months, maybe even the past year or two: “Lord, help me surrender.”

And then, I froze.

It was almost like God whispered to my spirit, “You have surrendered. Now do you trust Me with what You’ve surrendered?”

I stopped in my tracks. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

To be honest, I’d never thought of it that way before.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not implying that surrender is a one-and-done deal. It’s a process. I’m also not saying that surrender and trust don’t go hand-in-hand. They absolutely do.

But like little children asked to yield a favorite toy to an adult for reasons they don’t yet understand, once they have taken that leap of faith and placed it in their parent’s hand, the “act” is finished. Now, they must trust the parents’ hearts with what matters most to them. They have already surrendered, but now they must trust.

We’re like little children more than we realize.

What if once we release into the Father’s hand, we are called to stop reaching back for what we’ve let go of? I find that’s one of the hardest parts for me. I’ve admitted to myself that sometimes, I struggle to trust God and want to take it back into my own hands.

Why?

He hasn’t proven Himself untrustworthy. I know He isn’t going to fail me.

But if I’m honest, I think it’s because deep down, I want something so badly that I fear losing it. I fear God will ask me to give it up, that things won’t go my way, or I won’t get what I want.

God will always provide what I need, even if it’s not what I think I want. Philippians 4:19 (ESV) reminds us that “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” I’ve seen it in my lifetime and again. Why would I doubt Him now?

If He closes a door, then perhaps it’s protection. You ever heard the phrase “rejection is God’s protection”? Yep. So have I. And as much as I hate to admit it, it is often true.

When God closes a door we thought we were meant to walk through, we can be tempted to become angry at God. We can wonder why He did that. We can feel like we deserve [fill-in-the-blank]. But the truth is, every good thing comes from above and is a gift of grace we could never earn (James 1:17).

Yes, but God loves to give good gifts to His children. Not just good gifts but the best for us (Matthew 7:11). It may not look like the gifts He chooses to bless someone else with, but that’s okay. It doesn’t have to. It will be the best for us.

And you know something else?

God desires fellowship with us. I have found many times in my own life that God will allow things that will draw me to Him. Those things force me to rely on Him, to trust His plan, or to choose to worship Him even in a valley. He didn’t force us to Himself, but in those moments, He gives a choice: we can either allow the pain to pull us towards God or push Him away.

Intersecting Faith & Life

Recently, I wrestled with anger towards God. I knew I didn’t want to be angry, and I was angry at myself for even feeling that way.

I knew God had a plan, and I wanted to trust Him.

In the dark of night, I finally whispered to Him: “God, please write my story in the way that brings You the most glory.”

I can’t explain it, but after that night, I’ve had peace regarding that specific situation in my life.

I realized that Psalm 37:3-6 isn’t just about committing my way to the Lord. It was also about trusting Him once I did. We are called to trust in the Lord, do good, dwell where He has placed us, and be faithful in even the small things. If we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts, which is ultimately a relationship and fellowship with Him. It’s so hard sometimes, but there is such beauty and freedom in committing our ways to the Lord, trusting in Him, and watching Him write our stories in ways only He can.

And I know that no matter what happens, no matter what pain or unpleasant situations come up in my life, God will be there. And if He uses the pain to draw me to Him and to use in glorifying Himself and calling others to Him, then by His strength alone, I can say, “Bring it on.” If the pain is the path to His presence, then I count it all joy. It’s worth it.

Pray with me:

Dear Father, thank You for being patient with me, for being a loving Father whose heart I can trust even when I don’t understand Your plan. Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to take back what I’ve already surrendered to You, and for the moments I’ve let what I want cloud my view of what You have for me. Today, I’m not just surrendering my plans. I choose to trust You with what is already in Your hands. Help me to leave my story in Your hands, knowing that if You are writing it, it will be for my ultimate good and Your greatest glory. I am Yours. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Olaf Speier

Hannah L. Benson is a writer, actress, and content marketer with a passion for telling stories that glorify God and bring hope to your heart. As a writer, her work can be found in publications including the Rebelution, Her View From Home, Her Faith Arises, Inside Out Worldwide, and Crosswalk. Her heartfelt writings have impacted countless women around the country. As one reader put it: "Hannah has a gift of sharing the depths of her heart in a relatable way with a deep understanding of the human heart." Connect with her on Facebook (Hannah L. Benson) and Instagram @hannah.l.benson or visit her website at www.hannahlbenson.com.

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