In the book of Judges, we see the outworking of those who kept choosing what they felt was right. There, you see wars, conflicts, death, and endless cycles of sin, repentance, then sin again. These words are haunting: “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6).
Why Surrendering My Way Matters in a Chaotic World
The world holds such shallow “wisdom.” It reminds us to take shortcuts, satiate our own base desires, and look out for ourselves only. It promises a quick fix, a short-term solution to a complicated program, or entices us with escape.
Surrendering My Way to Embrace God’s Better Path
Sometimes we can fetishize our way of doing things, as if our methods are sacred and any other way of seeing a solution or accomplishing tasks is wrong. Problem is, we live in a complex world, and there are often many nuanced ways God leads his people toward their next steps. If we worship our way, we tend to think poorly of any other way, and we remain closed to the growth God has for us in those uncomfortable places.
How Surrendering My Way Strengthens Real Trust
Change is hard. And in a whirlwind of chaos, we tend to cling to what is known, what we’ve felt to be comfortable. Like Peter walking on the water toward Jesus (see Matthew 14:22-33), defying the laws of gravity, God calls us away from our way of doing things into a life of faith where there is the very real possibility of failure. Thankfully, in that unstable place of trusting God, he holds and sustains us.
Learning to Release Control
When we are staid in our methods of trust, often Jesus will shake the waves around us so that we realize everything we’ve trusted in is unsteady. Only he is worthy of our deepest trust. Only his way is the path toward a life of faith. And when we begin to sink, and all else feels lost, the strong arm of Christ reaches through the waves to rescue us.
The Freedom Found in Surrendering My Way
It’s easy to fall back on doing what is right in our own eyes. To surrender our way of doing things is to humble ourselves, recognizing we don’t have all the answers. As we surrender, we become more tender toward others who see the world differently than we do—doing so leaves space for compassion and empathy.
Praying Through Surrendering My Way
Jesus, I surrender my way of doing things to you. Why do I feel my way is best? I’m sure there’s pride lurking inside me. Root it out, Lord. Forgive me for judging others when they don’t conform to my prescription for their lives. Forgive me for erring on the side of judgment rather than love. Forgive me for worshiping my way. Your way is best. Love is best. Giving up control means you can do your best work. Empower me today to let go of needing everything to be done my way. Instead, Lord, I choose to rest in your beautiful ways. Amen.
Adapted from The Freedom of Surrender by Mary DeMuth. ©2025 by Mary DeMuth. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press. www.ivpress.com.
Mary DeMuth has written over fifty books, including The Most Overwhelmed Women of the Bible and 90-Day Bible Reading Challenge. Through her podcast Pray Every Day and her speaking events around the globe, Mary seeks to help people heal from past trauma and live re-storied lives as followers of Jesus.
