Many people struggle with this question, because “surrender” can sound like weakness or defeat. But in the life of faith, surrender means something entirely different. It’s not giving up—it’s giving over. To surrender in faith is to entrust our whole being, our hopes and fears, into the loving hands of God who knows us better than we know ourselves.
When we surrender, we stop fighting to control everything. We acknowledge that we are not the center of the story—God is. Jesus Himself shows us this perfect surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). That moment wasn’t resignation; it was the greatest act of trust. He placed His entire life into the Father’s will, even when the road led to the Cross.
The Church teaches that this surrender is not passive—it’s an act of deep love. To let God lead us means to cooperate with His grace, to believe that His plans are always for our good, even when they are hidden from our eyes. Faith grows strongest not when everything makes sense, but when we choose to trust even in uncertainty.
In daily life, surrendering in faith might look like forgiving someone when it feels impossible, or accepting a season of waiting without despair. It’s saying, “Lord, I don’t understand—but I trust You.” And in that simple prayer, peace begins to rise, because we no longer carry the weight alone.
May we learn the beauty of holy surrender — not as defeat, but as love in its purest form. For when we let go into God’s hands, we finally find the freedom we were made for.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
