Surrender is Stronger

One of the popular songs from the music group FFH is a song called “Undone”.  In the chorus there is a line that says “Surrender is stronger.”  For a long time, I sang along with the words but didn’t really understand what the singer/writer meant by the phrase.  I mean, don’t we generally look at surrender as a sign of weakness? 

Then one day as I was facing my own battles (of control) I had a conversation with God about needing to surrender my will to His.  It was then I realized just how hard surrendering can be.  I find it particularly hard to let go especially when I’m unclear on what God’s will is.  What if I don’t like the direction God wants to lead me?  Do I really trust Him not to let me down?  It sounds crazy to say but haven’t we all felt that way (even if we don’t verbalize it)?  We’d rather be in control of our chaos than to surrender to the One who can make order out of it.

Yes – depending on the situation surrender can be a sign of weakness.  For example, surrendering to the will of the “evil one” is actually pretty easy to do.  But surrendering to God takes an incredible amount of strength, faith and courage.  What it ultimately means is that we place God first and put ourselves squarely under his authority.  This is not to say He wants us to lose our individuality, our creative thinking or our individual drive.  He created us with unique gifts and wants us to continue to grow in them.  But there are times when our will comes into conflict with His.  These are the times when surrendering becomes toughest.  Surrendering to God means we finally understand we’re the creation and not the creator. 

The song goes on to say “I don’t need to be the hero tonight.”  Maybe there is a part in all of us that feels like we have to be the hero (whether it’s because we want the glory or because we’re afraid that if we don’t, nobody else will).  I think it’s easy to let God take the hero role with the overall picture of life.  But, the reality is the big picture is made up of everyday scenes where I’m trying to play the lead.  Yes – surrendering to God is stronger.  Not only is it harder to do, but it also makes us stronger by doing it.

I got the Blahs!

Ever have one of those days when you just feel “Blah”?  I’m having one of those days.  I’m not really sure why I feel this way but I find it quite annoying.  My goal was to get up this morning and hit the ground running.  Instead – I fell out and crawled.  Okay – not literally but you get the picture.  I tried caffeine.  That didn’t do the trick.  I tried pumping myself up with Christian music.  That didn’t work either.  I tried inspiring myself with online blogs and videos.  Nope.  Still nothing.  I feel like maybe a shot of adrenaline would be good right now.  I wonder how I can get me some of that?   
At any rate – the day is midway over and I’m attempting one more thing – writing.  It may be the thing that helps “Stella get her groove back”.  Productivity always seems to have a good affect on me.  And I suppose it should.  There’s something about the feeling of accomplishment that acts like a balm to the soul.  It’s much more rewarding to take steps forward (even if it’s only one step at a time) then to not move at all. 

 We’re hard-wired to be productive – to “bear fruit”.  A tree that does not bear fruit will eventually wither away and die. Likewise, when we are not productive – when we don’t bear fruit, a little part of us withers and dies.  That’s how I’ve been feeling today – like I’ve been withering.  It may sound redundant but “the more fruit we bear then the more fruit we’ll bear”. 

 Some days it’s harder than others to bear fruit but this is the promise we have from God in John 15, verse 4:  “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”  So caffeine and adrenaline aren't my answer.  I will get my renewed strength and energy from the Lord.

 “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”.

Colossians 1:10