Can I really trust God with this? When God says Surrender

This post is part of the R.A.W. (Real, Authentic, Wrecked) series.

During one of the weeks in my social media fast the Lord gave me the word “surrender.” I realized that surrendering or letting things go in the hands of God was a challenge for me in some areas. When you’re approached with the concept of surrendering to God, do you automatically panic or welcome the idea? Some things are easier than others—let me explain.

Most recently I had to surrender the desire to have children the way I want to, surrender my preference of not wanting to marry a pastor (yes, that’s a thing), my pride, financial status, etc. I had to sacrifice my preferences or how I wanted things for God’s divine and perfect will. I had to let go of my way of how becoming a parent would be one day. Would I be an instant mom with my one day husband’s children? Would we have children of our own naturally or through adoption?

I had to surrender my idea for what that looks like, and that’s honestly scary. But I trust God. You know why? Because God is the same God today as He was with His son Abraham.

In Genesis 22, the word says that God tested Abraham’s faith, commanding him to sacrifice [surrender, give up] his only son Isaac as a burnt offering. The next morning Abraham got up and went out to the mountain that God told Him to go to. It took them three whole days to get there, and told his servants to wait a distance away from where he and Isaac were headed. He told them “We will worship there and then we will come right back.”

Not only did Abraham have this assignment on his mind of surrendering his only son, he had perhaps thought about it heavily over those three days they all traveled to the mountain where the sacrifice was to be made.

Often times we are hesitant to give up something to God because we don’t know when we are going to get relief from the loss.

Take it from Abraham that your faith level has to be high to follow through with what God is asking or commanding you to do, despite what things look like. His approach was what I noticed three things in this chapter: obedient, orderly, and confident. The text shows that Abraham didn’t question God; He followed through with what the Lord told him. He obeyed God’s instructions on where to go, and on top of that, built the altar for the sacrifice, laying the wood in order, and even tying up his son Isaac. How devastating could that be to give up something so precious and dear to you?

And how could Abraham be so confident? In verse 8, just before he proceeded to tie up his son, he tells Isaac: “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering…” and if you notice in verse 5 that Abraham tells his servants that he and Isaac “will come right back.” Abraham knew that he was told to sacrifice his son at the time he talked to his servants and to his beloved son. The faith that Abraham had to speak with such steadfast confidence in God is an example for us to have faith when God asks us to surrender our lives—our everything—unto Him.

That comfort zone, that past, that old mindset, the bad relationships, those wounds, those preferences. Are you willing to sacrifice them at the Lord’s command? Are you willing to obediently lay them at His feet in expectation that He knows and will supply for your needs?

I believe that God knows what we want, what we need, and what we’re capable of. He knows whether or not you will be suitable for person A or person B, He just wants you to trust what He’s showing you to make the righteous decision for your life and future. He knew Abraham then and He knows you now.

He was about to sacrifice his son when an angel of the Lord stopped him and acknowledged Abraham’s true reverence for God: “You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” It was then Abraham saw the provision—the ram in the bush suitable for the sacrifice instead of his child. The angel told Abraham what the Lord said, including that He will certainly bless him, multiply his descendants beyond number, and through them all nations of the earth will be blessed, “all because you have obeyed Me.” (Gen. 22:18)

Who is attached to your obedience? Who will be blessed because of what you surrendered? This is enough to make you consider your ways and how you’ve been with God concerning the wait, singleness, desire for marriage, children, etc. God knows you and your future; He cares about everything you’re going through. He allows us to be tested so that we can grow, give Him glory, and be an example among other believers that we can make it when we trust God truly, no matter the circumstance.

After reading this with 30 year old eyes I am in awe of God’s faithfulness. The sacrifices that I made to be obedient to Him are going to work out in my favor and for those attached to me—just wait and see. I pray that whatever the Lord has put on your heart to surrender in this season will be something you can part with so that you are open to receive greater! The Lord does not disappoint! He doesn’t fail! If you ever doubt Yahweh Jireh (the Lord provides), then read Genesis 22. If He did it for Abraham, He will do it for you.

“I’m running, I’m never going back | Cause all You are is so much more than what I thought I had…”  -Anthony Evans, “Your Way” on the Back to Life Album

What has God put on your heart to surrender to Him in this season?