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Surrendering to God
By Sister Julie | February 11, 2008
I recently received the following question: I have a question about surrendering ourselves to God. What does this “surrender” exactly mean and how should one go about in surrendering him/her self totally to God?
Surrender is allowing God to embrace us fully. It has to do with what Saint Paul said: “No longer I but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). Surrender in this sense does not have to do with “giving up”, being resigned or accepting despair or defeat. On the contrary, surrender is about becoming most fully alive by allowing God (who is our proper “home’) to fill us, become one with us.
The writer of Blog by the Sea has a very thoughtful post called “Love and the Will of God” in which she addresses surrender through the words of Saint Edith Stein (1891-1942), the Carmelite nun, writer, and martyr:
No finite spirit [Geist], to be sure, is capable of wholly embracing the Divine Spirit, but God — and he alone — embraces and encompasses wholly every created spirit. Those who surrender their selves to him attain in loving union with him to the highest perfection of their being and to that love which is at once knowledge, surrender of the heart, and free act. That love is wholly turned upon God, but in union with divine love the created spirit also embraces its own self — in knowledge, in joyful bliss, and in free self-affirmation. The surrender of oneself to God is simultaneously a surrender of one’s own self — a self which God loves — to the entire created world, and in particular to all spiritual beings united with God.
(Saint Edith Stein in Section 9 of Chapter VII of Finite and Eternal Being)
There’s a lot to chew on in there … good stuff to pray with and reflect on.
How we live this in everyday life is a whole other question. One of my little mantras is “Not my will but Yours be done.” I keep this mantra like a little bookmark in my mind to remind me in specific situations that I want to act out of what is truly good not just for me but for others and for whatever mysterious intentions God has. Sometimes it’s as “simple” as stepping back from a situation and realizing that I was so intent upon something that I forgot to check in with God. Sure God is in my desires and impulses, but so is a lot of me! So surrender for me might mean allowing for a space in myself to be open to God’s ideas and dreams for me, not just my own or those of people around me.
That’s just one way. Let’s see what others think about this …
What else does Surrender in this context mean to you? How do you live it out?
Topics: compelling quotations |
February 11th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
It is so easy to mangle “Thy will be done” into “My will be done”..In a world that is so often out of control, we want to maintain the illusion that we actually do have control over most situations, so everything becomes what I want, when I want it and how i want it. And in the process, much against God’s patient and loving will for us, we, to quote the Bard, “sweat and strain under a weary life”. Meanwhile my big sister, Therese of Lisieux, constantly has to remind me, “How naughty it is to spend the night fretting instead of resting on the heart of Jesus.”
Surrender , in this context,shows ultimate confidence and trust in the one who loved us into being, whose very thought maintains our existence, whose arms are always open to strengthen and enfold, and whose heart burns brightly for we wayward sons and daughters.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:52 am
The very word surrender suggests defeat, a losing or giving in and yet we are told by many who have given themselves over to God that the experience is in fact the opposite. It liberates rather than confines.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Ah, as always you are timely with my life Path right now…
I have a hard time with the traditional meanings of ‘Surrendering’ oneself is portrayed in the Christian theology. Granted, I am a Medievalist and specifically have studied Marguerite Porette (1342). My vision is, admittedly, a bit skewed.
I do love the Arabic mystic who bellowed out his robes with his hands and said “there is nothing in my cloak but the Divine.” Also, the saying that at some point [the mystic] would have no actions or desires that are not at one with the Divine.
For me, Surrender is not active. I know that seems to be part of the point, but I think that part of the concept is walking what you know is Right. It’s not easy some times. It’s not easy most of the time. I try to cultivate knowing that the Divine has my best interest at heart.
I think I quoted this before, but it seems apt:
I spent a ling time Looking for my center
until I looked closely one night
and found it wheels
and moved easily in the slightest breeze,
so now I spend less time sitting
and more time sailing - B. Andrias
Brightest Blessings
February 13th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
How can this be? “On the contrary, surrender is about becoming most fully alive by allowing God (who is our proper “home’) to fill us, become one with us.” He let Timmy die. Timmy was only 8 with severe developmental disorders. Every year I ran a marathon for Timmy. His name was on the fron of my shirt. People shouted out his name as I ran by. They encouraged him to keep going. They encouraged him to not quit. Timmy died last Wednesday. He was buried on Saturday. This does not seem right. How can God fill Timmy when he is dead.?
February 14th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I am sorry for your pain.
Personally, I think that now Timmy is in Glory and is filled with the Divine more than we can ever imagine in this world. In my mind, Timmy is Whole and Joyous and Thank-Full for the Love that is still held for him.
My deepest condolences and most heartfelt Blessings…
February 15th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I am so sorry, Marco. Please know that you and Timmy’s loved ones are in my prayers. “Becoming most fully alive” doesn’t mean that we are perfectly healthy — it means embracing all of life, even the really terrible parts, the painful parts, and yes, even death. Though I know these words to be true, they also ring hollow in the face of the death of a loved one. Nothing feels right about death. I still grieve the death of a second-grader and friend named John who died when I was in 7th grade. Yet I believe and sometimes even sense a fleeting feeling that John is truly home and fully himself. That pleases me and consoles me greatly. I will be sure to ask John to look out for Timmy, though I have no doubt that Timmy is resting peaceful in the arms of our loving God.
Marco, you are such a blessing in Timmy’s life. I can feel the deep love and affection you have for him. You have no idea how fully alive you made Timmy feel. I’m sure he’s watching out for you now.
Please know my/our prayers and support are with you. Sister Julie