S6 E17: Surrendering To The Season

Hey friend!  

Before we jump into today's episode I have a question for you.

Did you take some time for last week's Summertime prompt of sitting down and taking notes and writing down any childhood summer memories that came to mind? And not only thinking about what you were doing but how you were feeling… if you haven’t taken the time to do that it’s not too late! It’s never too late. But I do think you will find it helpful in being intentional about finding real rest and living freely this summer in a way that is perfect for you and just what your soul needs and desires.

This leads me to what I want to talk about today. Surrender. More specifically surrendering to this season we find ourselves in.

For a lot of us, surrender can be such a scary, hard word. 

Surrender goes against self-dependence and self-control.

But it’s interesting because in spite of the natural resistance to submission deep within the human soul there seems to be as deep a desire and yearning to surrender.

We are creatures made in the image of our creator, God’s spirit calls to our spirit reminding us that there is no true freedom apart from full surrender.

Jesus is always inviting us to come to him and fully surrender and relinquish control of our lives.

In last week's episode, I read his word from Matthew 11 where he invites us to a life of freedom and lightness but he doesn’t just invite us he gives us the keys to making this kind of life a reality.

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

I wanted to talk about surrender this week because I’m sure some of you listening have found yourself bumping up against it already as you have some intentions around living freely + lightly.

You may be sat down and wrote your memories of Summertime and set out to make space for some living lightly this summer but are not finding that freedom and lightness.

If that’s you can I remind you of something?

Actually, can I remind you of 2 things?

Can I remind you that the way you felt and experienced some of the things that you wrote down that are so etched in your heart and mind is because you came to those moments and experienced those moments through the eyes of a child? You weren't over-thinking, over-planning, or over-doing anything!!!  In pure innocence and curiosity, you showed up in your life and lived it to the fullest.

The next thing I want to remind you of is the words of Jesus that I just read again from Matthew 11…

COME TO ME.

It is only in and through him that we will find true rest and fulfillment and our true and deepest selves.

When we fully surrender to him we discover the place for which we have been subconsciously longing.

And it’s not in the striving that he’s found, but in the surrender.

I think most of you would agree that one of the things we think about when thinking about Summertime is water.

Nothing like cool, refreshing water on a hot summer day!

I can remember as a child learning how to float on my back in the water. 

Floating is such an interesting thing. And I can remember the failure in attempts so many times as I tried to master this experience of floating.

The more I tried the more it didn’t work…

Until I realized I needed to stop trying

And just be.

Just be there in the water.

No striving.

No trying to stay above water.

Just complete surrender + trust that what I am putting my full weight on will hold when I let go of my effort and fear.

You can’t float till you let go.

So here’s the Summertime rhythm I would love to invite you to think about today….

Where are you holding back from full surrender that is keeping you from fully relying on his strength to hold you up and live lightly?

Let’s pray…

Father, we thank you for this season that we are in.

Even if for some it is hot and humid, figuratively and literally

Thank you for reminding us that it is in the letting go of our natural instinct to fight against sinking that we find we are supported and held by you

We love you and we are looking to you… 

always.