My desire to please the Lord is steadfast.
I want nothing more than to give every single concern I carry over to Him. To seek Him, confide in Him, hear from Him, follow Him, and rest in Him. And most days, I really do.
But then there are seasons when life picks up speed—when my days feel more like a white-knuckle rollercoaster than a gentle walk with Jesus. My grip tightens, not from unbelief, but from that primal fear of getting lost in the chaos.
Emotions rise quickly. I feel the pull of life whisking me away, and my natural instinct is to fight back—to control, to swim against the current, to wear myself out in the whirlpool of worry.
And yet, this is where surrender feels the scariest.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:7
I remember a day not long ago when I was juggling hospital appointments, school drop-offs, and dinner that wasn’t going to make itself. My shoulders were tense, my jaw tight, my mind racing with “what ifs.” It felt like I was holding on for dear life. And right in the middle of that swirl, God whispered: “Let go. I’ve got this.”
Loosening my grip and accepting God’s purpose is never easy, but it’s always what I need to regain peace. His plan is better. His strength steadies me. His rest restores me.
Each time I choose surrender, I find it grows a little easier to trust Him the next time the waters rise. My heart learns that even in the whirlwinds, God is not whisking me away—He is carrying me. And in that truth, I can finally exhale.
Not everything in life will make sense. Not every season will feel calm. But surrender isn’t about giving up—it’s about giving over. Handing my burdens to the only One strong enough to carry them.
And when I do, I find myself not swept away by chaos but anchored in peace.
Where are you holding on too tightly today? What might God be asking you to release into His hands?
Prayer:
Lord, You know how tightly I hold to the things I don’t understand, the burdens I’m afraid to release. Teach me to surrender daily, moment by moment, trusting that Your hands are stronger than mine. Help me to trade my white-knuckle grip for Your steady peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
