I Surrender All
Finding Freedom in Letting Go of What We Cannot Control
Wow! We’ve just started a new year and here we are already mid-January 2026. After this reality hit my gut, I had to actually look at myself and ask some hard questions about the things I had planned as I’m working on my life plan for 2026. I decided not to rush it this year so that I can capture every aspect of my life, not just the typical things like finances, spirituality, relationships, and work, but to really dig deeper. Digging deeper into the things that were causing ‘friction’ in my life.
And you know what question kept coming up? Have I surrendered?
Have I surrendered how I might perceive someone else? Have I surrendered situations that are beyond my control? Have I surrendered my consumption of news that feeds me more doom and gloom than hope and truth? And the list went on and on.
As for the news, I’ve gotten better about not spending too much time there. When I do check in, I usually follow the financial reports which tell me all I need to know in the world and locally, more than the regular local news or the endless news feeds that pretty much repeat the same thing. It’s so easy to get caught up in all of it if I’m not grounded in what the Lord would have me to hear, see, and say each day that He gives me breath to wake up and go about my day.
And thank You, Lord, for doing just that so that I can represent You the best that I can.
That’s the whole idea, isn’t it? To be a representative for the Lord the best way we can.
The Daily Challenge of Surrender
Each day comes with its own set of challenges, and it can be difficult when we allow ourselves to get caught up in those things that are all around us without putting God first and starting our day with Him.
I know that sometimes we’re told to spend time with the Lord anytime of day, whether it’s before you go to bed or in the middle of the day. But I find that if I can start my day with “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33), I can bring Him my petitions about how I’m feeling, how I’d like to see things and I pray that they align with the plans He has for me that day.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
This is what surrender looks like in the daily grind. Not leaning on our own understanding of how things should go, but trusting Him with the path, even when we can’t see where it’s leading.
And in the moments, because each day has its own moments, there’s nothing the same throughout the entire day. Time comes and goes, whether it’s a minute, an hour, or the day itself. Each day brings its new set of challenges.
But wouldn’t it be great if we could look at each day as a reward? A gift from the Lord?
All He’s asking us to do is to love one another, act in kindness and love, and create the joy that He’s already created for us through the death of His Son at the cross, taking away our sins so that we can have life everlasting and abundantly. That doesn’t mean monetary rewards. It means a life full of His goodness and mercy.
When Consumption Consumes Us
Speaking of money, even though we see on our U.S. currency “In God We Trust,” I like the reminder that God comes first. Let it be known that money is not the root of all evil. It’s the love of money that is and the character that creates in each one of us.
Should that even be our focus?
We live in a world, and especially here in the U.S., where we are taught extensively how to be consumers. Yet, we don’t necessarily do a great job of consuming the Word of God and really taking it in and building a relationship with Him.
I just had a wake-up call about what consumption looked like in our home. It seemed as though we were throwing out trash every single day, a full bag containing 13 gallons of waste. Every. Single. Day.
I decided to stop my annual planning and find better ways to control this situation because it really made my heart sink. I realized I was contributing to the problem versus the solution. This was another moment that reminded me I needed to surrender consuming so many packaged goods that contributed to the waste.
That’s the same thing when we don’t love one another we contribute to the problem and not the solution. We do better when we surrender our hearts to one another in the name of Jesus.
Jesus makes it clear, as did the Father, when it comes to loving one another as Christ loved us.
Choosing Love When It’s Hard
So I say all that to say: I’m going to continue to do my part to love even those who are, or seem to be, unlovable. And that’s not with judgment. That’s where I can tell that evil just might be in play.
One thing I used to do, especially in retail, when I would have somebody who was upset or simply mad at the world, I would continue to be kind no matter what they would say to me, no matter how they acted towards me. I knew that I had to be the one to continue to represent the Lord.
And there have been cases where those individuals seem to take in the moment by not hurrying the conversation or interaction. They seem to want to spend more time, to feel better in the situation. And if that’s a difference I can make, whether it’s a smile or hearing them say, “Thank you, I needed that”, it’s not for me to gloat. It’s for me to say, “Thank You, Lord,” and for that, I’m grateful that I was there for them.
“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:19-20)
That’s surrender, friend. Surrendering our need to be right, our need to defend ourselves, our need to control how others see us. It’s choosing to love because He first loved us even when it’s hard, even when it costs us something.
What Are We Really Surrendering?
When we sing “I Surrender All,” what does that really mean?
It means:
Surrendering our perceptions of others
Surrendering our need to consume what the world feeds us
Surrendering our anxiety about things beyond our control
Surrendering our right to be treated well in exchange for treating others with Christ’s love
Surrendering our timeline for God’s perfect timing
It means waking up each day and saying, “Lord, what do You have for me today? How can I represent You well? How can I love like You love?”
It means recognizing that each day is not just a challenge to get through, it’s a gift to unwrap, a reward for seeking Him first.
Your Invitation to Surrender
As we move through this new year, no rush, no pressure, I invite you to ask yourself the same question I’m asking:
What is causing me friction in my life right now? What do I need to surrender?
Maybe it’s how you’re spending your time. Maybe it’s what you’re consuming literally or figuratively. Maybe it’s unforgiveness, judgment, or the need to control outcomes you were never meant to control in the first place.
Whatever it is, bring it to Him. Start your day seeking Him first. Bring Him your petitions about how you’re feeling, how you’d like to see things, and pray that they align with the plans He has for you.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Because when we surrender all, we make room for Him to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.
And that, my friend, is where true joy lives.
Let’s Pray Together🙏🏼
Lord, I surrender all. I surrender my perceptions, my need to control, my consumption of things that don’t feed my soul. I surrender my right to defend myself when I could choose love instead. Help me to seek You first each day, to represent You well, and to love others as You have loved me. Thank You for the gift of each new day, each new moment, each new opportunity to walk in the abundant life You’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Question for Your Heart❤️
What is one thing you need to surrender today? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Let’s encourage each other in this journey of letting go and making room for more of Him.
—With love and surrender, Tina💖