Walking through surrender — emotionally, spiritually, relationally
Surrender.
It’s a beautiful word with a complicated reputation.
Say it in a prayer circle, and it sounds holy.
Say it in a boardroom, and it sounds weak.
Say it in your personal life — and it might feel like failure.
That’s because most of us were taught that surrender means giving up — admitting defeat, waving the white flag, and walking away with nothing.
But here’s what I’ve learned, through broken places and hard prayers:
Surrender isn’t giving up — it’s giving over.
It’s not the end of effort. It’s the beginning of alignment.
Surrender ≠ Resignation
Let’s be clear: surrender does not mean you stop caring.
It does not mean you stop showing up.
It does not mean you shrink back from your calling or walk away from your responsibilities.
Surrender is not passive — it is powerful.
You’re not giving up the dream.
You’re just giving God permission to take the lead.
You’re releasing your grip so you can receive what’s truly meant for you.
🛑 So How Do You Surrender — Without Quitting?
Let me walk you through three steps that helped me surrender in real time, without walking away from what God called me to:
1. 🌿 Acknowledge What You’re Holding Onto
The first step is honesty.
You can’t surrender what you won’t admit you’re still clinging to.
Ask yourself:
- Am I trying to control something God never asked me to fix?
- Am I striving for an outcome instead of listening for God’s instruction?
- Am I chasing validation more than I’m pursuing peace?
For me, I had to admit I was holding onto control disguised as “faith.” I said I trusted God, but my anxiety told a different story. I had to face my fear of releasing outcomes and trust the process.
2. 🙏 Give It Back to God — Out Loud
There’s something powerful about naming what you’re surrendering out loud.
It becomes a declaration. A line in the sand. A turning point.
Try praying something like this:
“Lord, I surrender this situation. I give You permission to take over. Not my will — but Yours. Lead me, correct me, carry me. I release it into Your hands.”
It might feel awkward at first. Vulnerable. Exposed.
But something shifts when heaven hears you let go.
3. 🚶♀️ Keep Moving — Even With Open Hands
Here’s where most people misunderstand surrender.
They think once they let go, they’re supposed to sit still.
But surrender doesn’t mean stopping.
It means moving with God, not ahead of Him.
After I surrendered, God didn’t tell me to sit on the sidelines — He gave me wisdom for the next step.
He realigned my priorities.
He adjusted my pace.
He opened doors I was trying too hard to force.
The posture of surrender is not folded arms — it’s open hands while still walking forward.
🕊️ What I Gained When I Let Go
Surrender didn’t take my power.
It returned my peace.
It didn’t steal my goals.
It clarified my why.
It didn’t silence my voice.
It finally gave me the courage to use it from a place of rest.
I’ve never felt stronger than the day I let go — and let God rewrite the plan.
💬 From White Flagging — A Line That Says It All:
“Surrender is not the end of effort. It’s the end of striving and the beginning of true strength.”
That line still rings in my heart. Because since the day I stopped performing for peace, I’ve known what it truly feels like to walk in it.
As we prepare for the August 5 release of White Flagging: The Surprising Power of Winning by Surrender, I want you to do three things:
✅ Mark August 5 on your calendar to buy the book for just $0.99
✅ Forward this blog to someone who needs to know: surrender is not giving up — it’s moving into freedom
✅ Remind others: Only one copy per Amazon account/credit card counts toward bestseller rank
You’re not weak for letting go.
You’re strong enough to trust God with what you can’t carry anymore.
Wave the white flag — not to walk away, but to walk forward.