Surrender is an important aspect of our relationship with God.
But there are subtle, yet critical, differences between submission and surrender.
Submission is something we can do, something we can control. In surrender, we make the conscious choice to let go of that control, but the actual act of surrender is something only God can do. In that way, it is gift from God to us.
When we submit, we give in; the focus is on ourselves. When we surrender, we give up, putting the focus where it belongs: on God.
But it isn’t giving up in the way we normally define it. The action is more like “giving over.”
In one phrase: Let go and let God.
I'll have to admit that I've too often confused the two. I'd rather surrender to God than submit but it seems submission has been the focus.
Yes!! God has been teaching me more and more about surrendering to Him and letting Him have my heart and life. Great post, Bianca!! Have a great day!!!
I am right there with Jason…my mind works in a "follow directions" type of way and that messes me up bad when it comes to the heart matters with my relationship with God….its a constant prayer of mine….
Yes! For me too, Christy!!!
Don't we "give over" or "give up" our own preferences when we submit to our spouses though? The relationship between the two is still fuzzy for me…if it's a matter of a preposition's placement, maybe it's not too big a difference?
Yes, great point, Carrie! We submit to our spouses, but with the Lord it's more of a surrender. We are broken, lost, hopeless and He takes us in as an act of divine love. We have a conscious choice to submit… but surrender is completely divine.
I believe you will be writing A LOT more on this topic now that you are in the relatioship that best exemplifies our relationship with God and His church. I'm excited to see what this journey will teach you so you can pass that wisdom along! 😉
Thank You for this post…this is exactly where I am RIGHT NOW, in my life…..LET GO AND LET GOD!
THANK YOU! 😀
How does this play into living out biblical gender roles? Or am I over thinking this?
Hey Steph! No, I don't think your reading into this at all. The bible says to submit to one another in one passage and submit to husbands in another. But no where in the bible does it deal with surrender to our spouses.
Surrender is something divine. Submission is an act of control. We are broken, lost, hopeless and He takes us in as an act of divine love. We have a conscious choice to submit… but surrender is completely divine.
Wow! I never though of the difference, but it is there and it is huge! The confusion is probably there because we can submit actively – when we know His will and "instructions" and DO it.., but surrender is trusting Him and His will without knowing really what is going to happen next, but accepting it before it happens.
It seems from your post (and searching "blue letter Bible") that submitting is like of someone shows you way or takes your hand and you are walking, following them. Surrender, on the other had, is like letting them carry you wherever they want without protesting. Submission feels like more in control, surrender is not really so- it requires knowledge that one who carries you wants to and will, in fact, pick you up and faith that they will not drop you…It is more vulnerable than submission.
Am I getting it?
MONEY! Aljolja, this is on point! Exactly. Brilliant girl 🙂
I suck at both of these.
😐
I guess God wanted me to read this post today for me to realise the difference.
I struggle too much, where ther is no need to.
At the end of the day, discouraged and tired, I finished by saying "I surrender', when actually i'm giving up.
Thank you for this message, it was at least for me.
Sonia, from France (pardon for my english, I'm a french speaker, living in France, and coming from Cameroon).
Bon jour, Sonia! Wow, thank you for posting even while feeling nervous about your English. If it makes you feel better, I COMPLETELY understood what you were saying 🙂
I'm glad we could connect 🙂
hmmm… so one question, I have always learned that both are a decision of the will… either a decision to give in or give up… what do you think? I had never thoguht of these two as different… but your post is making me think…
Ohhhhh, good question! Giving up and giving in is different than giving over.
The concept is one that I'm mulling over. It's so tough to grasp it, let alone explain it. Since we both are thinking about this, if you come up with something brilliant, let me know 😉
Oh dang girl… it's like the perfect trifecta: giving up/giving in/giving over
Is the difference the choice to "release" without any control over what happens? hmmmm…brain cramp I have
So, SO true. God totally has my husband and I in a season of showing us that we can't move an inch without Him moving us, but that He has so many doors that He has opened for us that if we would just "surrender" we would be so much more fulfilled. Why is it so darn hard to just let Him do His thing? Why do I fight it?
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