There are things we just can’t change—whether it’s the minor frustration of a traffic jam or the heaviness of a difficult diagnosis. In those situations, you have a choice: You can choose to let stress take over, or you can surrender it all to God.
Surrender is what Jesus was getting at when he told us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 KJV).
When you surrender to God—when you ask for his kingdom to come and his will to be done—you make four stress-busting choices.
First, you let go of control. Every day, you decide who’s in control of your life—you or God. Stress relief starts when you let God be God. Romans 8:6 says, “If a person’s thinking is controlled by his sinful self, then there is death. But if his thinking is controlled by the Spirit, then there is life and peace” (ICB).
Second, you learn to be content. In difficult, unchangeable circumstances, it’s natural to worry, feel resentful, have self-pity, or be afraid. Instead, God invites us to learn contentment. Paul understood this. He said, “I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. . . . I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11, 13 NCV).
Third, you lay down your plans. When problems derail your plans, you need to lay down your plans and entrust yourself to God’s good purposes. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Luke 12:31).
Fourth, you leave the future to God. It’s tempting to worry about the future. Instead, you can choose to live for God, one day at a time, and leave the results in his capable hands. Proverbs 3:5-6 promises, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (ESV).
Do you long for less stress and more serenity? I think we all do. Today, you can choose to surrender instead of stressing out. The Bible promises, “Those who obey the LORD are daily in his care, and what he has given them will be theirs forever” (Psalm 37:18 CEV).
