Finding Joy in Surrender: Trusting God in the Hard Moments

Surrendering control to God during hard moments is a profound act of faith that can lead to unexpected joy and peace. It often requires us to deny ourselves and surrender our lives through faith, as Jesus describes in Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV); “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

To find joy in surrender is to trust God in the hard moments. It’s about acknowledging that our understanding is limited and that a higher power has a broader, more loving perspective. With that said, it is easier said than done.

Understanding the Joy of Surrender

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) says that we are to “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways [we are to] submit to him, and he will make [our] paths straight.” This is meant to showcase the importance of placing our trust in God’s wisdom rather than our limited perspective.

Release of Burden

We carry an immense burden when we try to control every aspect of our lives.

God doesn’t want us to carry this weight; in fact, He tells us so in Matthew 11:28 (NIV) when he says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Finding Peace in Uncertainty

Life is full of unknowns. Surrender helps us find peace in the midst of uncertainty, trusting that God’s plan is unfolding, even when we can’t see it.

This peace is a deep, abiding sense of calm that transcends our circumstances and our understanding. It isn’t the type of peace that the world gives us, either. This can feel scary, but if we work at letting go, our hearts can rest (John 14:27 NIV).

Experiencing Divine Guidance

Surrender opens us up to divine guidance. It allows us to hear God’s voice more clearly and to follow His leadership.

This guidance can lead us to unexpected blessings and opportunities. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) can be applied to our lives. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

This takes practice, but the result is that hearing God’s voice makes the surrender so much sweeter.

Deeper Trust and Intimacy

Surrendering fosters a deeper trust in God. Our relationship with Him grows stronger as we witness His faithfulness in difficult times.

This intimacy brings joy from knowing we’re deeply loved and cared for, but it comes from remaining in the vine. We bear fruit by trusting the Lord and seeking that intimate relationship with him. With that intimacy comes joy. (John 15: 4 NIV).

How to Let Go and Trust

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV). This is not to say that letting go and trusting is easy. In fact, for many of us, it goes beyond our comfort zone.

Sometimes, we backtrack when we learn how to let go and trust. It is important to remember that it is okay. I firmly believe God expects it, but learning how to let go and trust in God’s plan for us takes practice. There are, however, some steps we can take as we go through the learning process.

Acknowledge Your Limitations

Recognize that you can’t control everything. Admit your fears and anxieties to God. This is a tough one for me. My Type A personality begs for a certain sense of control, and as a wife, mom, and household manager, delegating can be hard.

We are only human, which in and of itself states that we have limitations. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) reminds us that His ‘grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Prayer and Meditation

God wants us to communicate with Him through prayer regularly, express our needs, fears, and desires, and spend time with Him.

As I am inclined to be anxious, one of my favorite passages is Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV). It reminds us that we should “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Of course, this takes patience to practice. Find your preferred time of day to spend in the scriptures with God. This time is an excellent opportunity to meditate, quiet your mind, and listen for God’s guidance.

Practice Gratitude

Even in difficult times, there are things to be grateful for. Focusing on these blessings shifts our perspective and builds faith. I think we have all been in situations that were hard at one time or another, but we could still find reasons to be thankful.

For instance, we have three kids. We always wanted three kids. For them, my husband and I are extremely thankful. The road to becoming parents and growing our family had some rough patches. We had a year of infertility. Three miscarriages. All three of our babies spent time in the NICU after birth. Our oldest son has a rare genetic condition that scared us at first. God chose not to have him terribly affected by his condition.

Our youngest child had a rare seizure disorder that impacts very young babies. He was successfully healed from that experience. My point is that in the hard and scary moments, we had and still have so much to be thankful for (Psalm 107: 21 NIV).

Transformative Joy in Surrendering Control

To truly surrender, you must give up your attachment to your desired outcome. Trust that God’s plan is better, even if it looks different than yours. This does not mean passivity. Once you have prayed and sought guidance, take the steps that you feel you should take, trusting that God will direct your path.

Surrendering is a process, not a one-time event. It is not about giving up; it’s about giving control to the One who knows best. The joy of surrender is a deep, abiding peace that comes from trusting in God’s love and faithfulness.

By practicing these principles, you can experience the transformative joy that comes from surrendering control to God, even in the midst of life’s most challenging moments.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) says it best, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”