Guest post by Mrs. Joseph Wood of A Moment with M.O.M.
Remember the hymn “All to Jesus, I Surrender”?
The chorus goes like this: “I surrender all, I surrender all. All to Thee my Blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
I’ve heard this hymn countless times growing up in church. When I think back, I think I always pictured someone leaving America to go to some far off jungle to share the Lord. I sang it. I memorized it, but I never considered that it might apply to me.
I mean, am I the only one who has images of pain when considering surrendering all?
“Surrendering” isn’t on my top ten things to do for the fall–or any other season for that matter. I would much rather keep my list to things like walks in the crunchy autumn leaves, or enjoying a sticky caramel apple with my dear Joe.
Surrendering, surrendering all?
Where does that fit into my list of “must dos”? No matter how I try to dress it up in my mind’s eye, surrendering all is no romantic walk through the park.
Consider the painful steps such as the ones that Abraham took with his son, Isaac, to sacrifice him unto the Lord. Or what about Hannah with her son, Samuel? Of course the life of Jesus is all about surrendering to the will of the Father.
Then we have Mary the mother of Jesus who surrendered all. In fact she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). Now, there’s someone who makes surrendering look beautiful if I ever did see it.
I might have thought that surrendering was something I only did at that point when I realized who I was, what I was created for, and by whom I was created. I guess I never thought that surrender would be happening again, and again, and again.
Surrendering my dreams to Him as he lead my husband to sell our dream home and buy nothing more than a tent high up in the Sierras.
Surrendering my comforts to Him as this city girl had to learn to cook over a fire, wash clothes in a creek, and take showers under the oak tree. Surrendering my hopes to him as I’m told I can no longer have children.
Surrendering the romantic ideas of motherhood as I mother a rebellious child who’s bent on destruction.
Surrendering my plans to Him as He leads me away from my childhood home halfway across the United States.
Surrendering my future to Him as a lump…no, two lumps are discovered.
Surrendering my finances to Him as I read the denial letter from the insurance company, again.
Surrendering again, and again, and again until all is surrendered.
I’ve come to the realization that this is the type of surrendering that is exactly what God has planned for each of our lives. While the details of what surrendering all may look different in each of our lives, the objective is the same. God desires vessels who surrender all. People who know the price that has been paid for them, and live accordingly. Individuals who surrender every comfort, dream, desire, and plan to an invisible God with an eternal vision.
What could be the purpose of this painful process?
As we can see looking through the Scriptures and even in our personal lives, surrendering all to Him doesn’t mean that He’ll actually take all. Sometimes the lesson for us was all the steps to surrendering. It’s just the process of letting go of something that we’re holding way too close. These are not bad things. Quite often they are very good things, even promises and gifts from the Lord that we begin to take ownership of.
How careful I must be to surrender all each and every day!
I have an upcoming doctor appointment this morning. I expect we will learn answers regarding my health. I am quiet in my heart. I am not afraid. Not because fear isn’t nearby, rather because I choose to push fear aside and set my attention on the safety of surrendering all to Him.
I feel like I’m taking steps up the hill to lay down all I hold dear and place it on the altar. I am humbled. I don’t want to experience pain or loss and yet, what means the most to me is that I make myself do what I know I should do instead of clinging to any type of temporal comfort.
This morning I say, “I surrender all. All to Thee my blessed Savior. I surrender all.”
I hope you too can find the strength to say those words today and every day that follows.
Because of His Grace,
Mrs. Joseph Wood
Has God called you to walk a hard path of surrender? How has your journey brought you closer to God?
Jeanette Wood, known online as Mrs. Joseph Wood, has been sharing real moments from her household of 13 both online and off since 1995. Her heart’s desire is to share the grace of God and His transformation power in homes and lives surrendered to His will. Now the grandmother of two children, mother of eleven and wife to her best friend, Joseph, she not only shares online for women, but also for their home business, Covenant Ranch Trucking LLC.
Covenant Ranch Trucking proudly delivers for Azure Standard affordable whole foods for families across the Midwest. Jeanette loves to challenge families to reclaim the Family Table, helping children with special needs through the use of whole foods, and encouraging women to serve health-building recipes that their families will love. Jeanette offers assistance in getting Azure Standard into new areas and connecting families to local drops in their communities.
You can connect on Facebook with Jeanette or with Covenant Ranch Trucking.
Kelly @ The Nourishing Home
I am moved to tears, Jeanette, over your faithfulness to surrender everything to the Lord. I am praying that the Lord will bring you good news regarding your health, as we desperately need sisters like you spurring us on to draw closer to God and give Him everything with open hands.
You’ve made me think harder about what I’m holding onto and how nothing is more precious than trusting in the Lord! Your post also made me think of another old hymn, “He is my everything. He is my all. He is my everything, both great and small. He gave His life for me, made everything new. He is my everything. Now how about you?”
When He is really our “everything” then it makes surrendering so much easier – I want to love Him more and make Him more and more my everything each day! Thank you so much for opening up your heart and in the process allowing God to work through you to inspire others to fully surrender to the King of Kings, for He loves us and gave His life for us!
With much love and gratitude in Christ, Kelly
Crystal Green
My heart is rejoicing that you are able to surrender all to God despite all that you’ve been through. It’s not easy to do that. I will say that posts like these are reason why I know God is all powerful and well worth putting my faith in. (My own life experiences have been proven it too, but these types of posts prove that I’m not alone.)
You’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award too.
arindam
Is surrendering the same as accepting? Surrendering yourself in front of supreme power gives a power to accept current conditions. This acceptance helps to find a way to achieve superior life.
Arindam from arindamchattopadhyay.com
Mel @ Trailing After God
Oh the truth in this. We’ve surrendered so much in life and God has honored it in different ways each time, not always a blessing in appearance right away. We gave up our home and surrendered it and it was hard. God blessed us with our dream home after. Now it seems He is asking us to surrender again and move to Haiti to care for orphans and we are saying YES but it isn’t without a little fear of the unknown! And yet, after my mission trip in March, Haiti has a part of my heart and seeps deep into my bones. Thank you for the encouraging reminder!
kissha
Hi Jeanette,
God really works in amazing ways. I was moved by your blog. It is just what I needed. That’s why i let go and let loose. May I find strength everyday to surrender all to Him. Thank you for writing this.
rosy
WILL KEEP YOU IN PRAYERS. I SRUGGLE WITH SURRENDING AND I DON’T KNOW WHY. I PRAY ABOUT ALL THE MANY CHANGES I NEED TO MAKE. I FEEL LIKE A SPIRITUAL FAILURE, AND IT IS DEPRESSING. I HAVE HAD MANY HEALTH ISSUES, AND NEVER LIKED DRUGS OR DOCTORS. I HAVE BEEN TO SO MANY, AND SOME ARE RUDE AND ACT LIKE YOUR A BURDEN TO EVEN BOTHER THEM. I WEIGHED 135 AND DROPPED TO 110. THEY SAID I HAD BACTERIAL INFECTION, IBS, AND DIVERTICULOSIS, AND GLUTEN INTOLERANCE. I ALREADY BATTLED ANXIETY, AND MY HEART AT TIMES BEATING TO FAST. EVEN THO I WENT GLUTEN FREE I STILL HAVE PAIN IN MY SIDES OFF AND ON, AND I GUESS MY WEIGHT LOSS HASN’T HELPED MY MUSCLES, BECAUSE THEY ACHE IN MY ARMS, THEN MY FEET AND LEGS PUT ME THREW MISERY OFF AND ON. THEN I CAUGHT MY 4 YR. OLDS COLD AND I NEVER RECOVERED FROM THE SINUS PROBLEM AND IT AFFECTED MY EARS, AND GLANDS IN MY NECK. I SAW A DOCTOR FOR THAT, GAVE ME AMOXICILLIN THAT DIDN’T WORK SO I QUIT MESSING WITH DOCTORS, AND STRUGGLE EVERYDAY WITH SOMETHING IN MY BODY. I WANTED TO GIVE UP MANY TIMES BUT I GUESS GOD KEPT ME GOING. I LEARNED TO WE CAN HAVE A SIN OR UNFORGIVENESS THAT KEEPS US SICK. THE BIBLE IS CLEAR ON THAT. I HAVE WONDERED IF WE THINK WE HAVE FORGIVEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE HURT US BUT WE HAVEN’T REALLY FORGIVEN. IT CAN BE A TOSS UP SOMETIMES. I KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN PAIN A LONG TIME, AND GO THREW ALOT IN LIFE, THEY CAN BECOME NUMB TOO. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. SHE SAID IT’S HOW SHE SURVIVES… SAD… BE WELL LOVELY LADY, AND BLESSED….
Mari
I have surrendered all to God Almighty!! I lost everything, my house, my custody, my ex stole my identity, stole my 50% equity & made false allegations against me in family court! He is a severe narcissistic toxic abuser! It’s so hard to prove narcissistic abuse bc it’s silent but very damaging! I feel like just giving up its to much pain unbearable pain!!
Erin
I am so sorry for what you are going through, and I will pray for you right now,Mari.