Another moment in surrendering

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope."

Have you ever looked back on your life and thought, “Wow God, I see You now”?

I see why You allowed that to happen. I see why I had to learn that lesson. I see why You didn’t let me give up.

Maybe there was even a situation where God didn’t allow you to continue, something you didn’t understand at the time. It may have felt confusing, frustrating, or even painful. But now, looking back, you can see it was His protection… not His absence.

There are moments we question everything. His timing, His decisions, even His silence. But in hindsight, His hand is undeniable. What once felt like rejection was actually redirection. What felt like delay was preparation. What felt like loss was often protection.

If God has a plan for our lives, why don’t we recognize His work sooner? Why do we become so overwhelmed when things don’t go as we planned, or when we face difficult situations?

Scripture actually calls us to be joyful in trials, because in those moments, God is doing a greater work within us. His Word reminds us that when we trust in Him, we will be strengthened and equipped for whatever He allows us to walk through, not to harm us, but for our good.

But what I’ve come to realize is that the most harmful thing isn’t always the situation… it's our own way of thinking.

We don’t truly know what’s going on, yet somehow, we trust ourselves more than we trust God. And isn’t it humbling to think about? We place confidence in ourselves, who are everything He is not, instead of fully trusting our Father, who is all knowing.

What God is teaching me in this season is how to truly accept that my life is not my own. Not just to say it or understand it, but to live it.

I’m learning to surrender my desires and ask Him to align my heart with His. I find myself searching for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, wanting to know Him more, trust Him more, and follow Him more closely.

At the same time, I still carry the desire for meaningful, healthy relationships in the future, and even the hope that God may restore the ones He sees fit. But I’m learning to place those desires in His hands, trusting that His plan is far greater than anything I could create on my own.

I’m learning that walking with God is a journey, and He has the final say.

I don’t always understand or even like the direction He leads me in, but I trust that His will be done either way. So, we should choose to walk with Him willingly, because we all know what it feels like when God has to tear things apart in our lives just to get our attention.

And I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of living in my flesh and relying on my own ways.

Sometimes I look back at the person I used to be before God revealed His love to me, and I laugh… and sometimes I cry. But what I’ve come to understand is this:

There is more love in Him than there is shame in my past.

If you’re still on this journey with me, I want to gently remind you, don’t just seek His guidance, allow His grace to cover you in this season. Because this is a season where His grace is sufficient.

You are not surrendering alone.

You are surrendering to the One who created you and calls you His own.

Trust that He sees you. Trust that He is with you. Trust that He will meet every need as you begin to live a life set apart for your Heavenly Father.

And now, when I think about belonging to Him, I don’t see it as a loss…

I see it as a gift.

Reflection:

What are you still holding onto that God is asking you to release? Have you truly surrendered it, or have you been picking it back up in fear and control? Take a moment today to trust Him with what feels too heavy to carry alone.

Prayer

Lord,Teach me how to truly surrender. Help me to release what I cannot control and trust You with every burden I carry. When fear rises, remind me that Your plans are greater than my own. Fill me with peace, strengthen my faith, and help me rest in Your love as You work in my life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.