Surrendering to Be Set Free

Good morning, church family! Today, we’re going to talk about something that’s easy to say but hard to do: surrendering to God. Not just the casual, halfway kind of faith where you toss God a prayer when life gets messy—but true, all-in surrendering. The kind of surrendering that unlocks your truest self, the person God designed you to be.

Let’s be real—surrendering isn’t something we like to talk about. We live in a culture that screams, “Be in control! Follow your own path! Do what makes you happy!” But let me ask you: how’s that working out for you? Are you really free? Or are you stuck in a cycle of trying to measure up, carry your burdens alone, and chase after things that never satisfy?

What Is Surrendering?

Let’s start with the words of Jesus:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

Surrendering means letting go of control. It’s dying to your own plans, your own pride, and your own way of doing things. It’s handing over the keys to your life and saying, “Jesus, you drive.” And here’s the paradox: when you surrender, you don’t lose yourself. You actually find yourself.

You see, we spend so much time trying to create our own identity—trying to be successful, impressive, or perfect. But God is saying, “Stop striving. I already made you in My image. I already gave you a purpose. Let Me lead you into the life you were created for.”

Surrendering Is Hard but Worth It

Let’s be honest—surrendering isn’t easy. It’s scary to let go of control. But let’s look at Proverbs 3:5-6:

“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.”

Did you catch that? Trust in God—not yourself. Because, let’s be real: our understanding is limited. We don’t see the whole picture. But God does. Surrendering means admitting, “God, You know better than I do. Your plans are higher than my plans.”

And when you surrender, God doesn’t leave you empty-handed. He fills you with peace. He gives you direction. He takes the broken pieces of your life and creates something beautiful.

Surrendering to Become Who You Were Created to Be

Now, let’s get personal. God didn’t create you to live in fear, shame, or constant striving. He created you to live in freedom, purpose, and joy. But here’s the thing—you can’t step into your true identity if you’re clinging to your old ways.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says:

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Surrendering means letting go of the fake version of yourself—the version that’s trying to impress people, trying to control everything, trying to hide your scars. It’s stepping into the person God created you to be: loved, chosen, forgiven, and free.

What Does Surrendering Look Like?

So, how do we actually live this out? Here are three steps to start surrendering:

1. Let go of control. Pray like this: “God, I give You my plans, my fears, and my dreams. Lead me where You want me to go.”

2. Obey God’s Word. Surrendering isn’t just a feeling; it’s an action. When God says, “Love your enemies,” “Forgive,” or “Trust Me,” do it—even when it’s hard.

3. Rely on God daily. Surrendering isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a daily choice. Wake up every morning and say, “Jesus, today is Yours.”

The Freedom of Surrendering

When you surrender, you’re not giving up—you’re gaining everything. You’re stepping into the life you were created for. Jesus said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

When you stop striving and start surrendering, you find rest. You find freedom. You become your true self, the person God dreamed up when He formed you in your mother’s womb.

Surrendering to God’s Will, Even When It’s Hard

Now, let’s address a very real part of surrendering: doing things we don’t want to do. We all have our comfort zones, don’t we? We have the things we like to do, the plans we’ve made, and the paths we want to follow. But here’s the tough truth: surrendering to God’s will often means doing things we don’t want to do.

Think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In His humanity, He was facing the greatest sacrifice of all—laying down His life for the sins of the world. In His moment of deepest anguish, He prayed to God the Father:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus, in His deepest distress, didn’t want to go through the pain and separation from God that the cross would bring. He asked God to take that cup from Him. But He didn’t stop there. He surrendered His will to the Father: “Not as I will, but as You will.”

Sometimes, surrendering to God’s will isn’t about choosing what’s comfortable or easy. It’s about trusting that God knows what’s best, even when it doesn’t align with our preferences. When God asks us to forgive someone who has hurt us, it may be the last thing we want to do. When He calls us to serve in a ministry that challenges us, we may feel inadequate or scared. When He asks us to love those who are difficult to love, it can feel impossible.

But in those moments, surrendering means saying, “God, I trust You, even when I don’t understand. Even when it’s hard. Even when I don’t want to.”

Paul talks about this in Romans 12:1-2, where he encourages us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is our true and proper worship. He says, “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.”

This transformation comes through surrender. We let go of our own will and submit to God's will, even when it requires something that challenges us. The world tells us to follow our heart, but God calls us to follow His heart. And let me tell you, even when God’s will takes us through difficult or uncomfortable places, it is always leading us to a deeper understanding of His love and purpose for our lives.

Surrendering to God’s will is not about giving up—it’s about gaining God’s best.

So, what does this look like for you today? Are there areas of your life where God is asking you to surrender your will for His? Maybe you’re facing something difficult that you’re resisting—maybe a relationship, a calling, or a step of faith that feels too big or too hard. But I want to encourage you: God’s will is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2). It may not always be easy, but it will always lead to the best outcome.

Let’s take a moment right now, wherever you are, to surrender those things that are hard, those things that we’ve been holding onto tightly.

Let’s pray together:

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today with hearts that long to surrender—truly surrender to Your will, even when it takes us to places we don’t understand or don’t want to go. Lord, help us to follow Your example, as You, Jesus, surrendered Your will to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even in the hardest moments, You trusted that God’s plan was best. We want to do the same, Lord.

We lay down our own plans, our own desires, and our own ways of doing things. We surrender our fears, our pride, and our comfort zones. We trust that You will lead us into the life we were created for—a life filled with purpose, peace, and freedom in You.

God, give us the strength to obey, even when it’s hard. Help us to love when it’s difficult, to forgive when it’s painful, and to serve when it’s inconvenient. May we always remember that Your will, even when it’s challenging, is for our good and for Your glory.

We surrender today, Lord. All that we are and all that we have, we give to You. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.