Why must we surrender? And why does surrender feel so hard? Most people understand surrender as giving up, giving in, and losing control. History reinforces that image. After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of territory, restricted its military, and burdened it with severe reparations, deepening economic strain and national resentment. After World War II, the victorious Allies divided Germany into four occupation zones, eventually creating rival states in the East and West.
This is the surrender the world knows: defeat, humiliation, and the loss of freedom. But Christian surrender is different. We are not being conquered by an enemy. We are entrusting ourselves to a faithful Creator. We surrender not because God has overpowered us, but because we trust that the one who created us can be trusted with the lives he has given us.
“So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.
Christian Standard Bible (1 Pe 4:19). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
Peter says that we must entrust ourselves to the Creator. Not our possessions or plans—our entire being. We’ve all probably let someone borrow something. In doing so, we not only trust that the item will be kept safe but that it will be returned to us. The more important the item, the harder it is to trust someone. Most of us probably have a very short list of who can drive our car with us present. If we’re not in the car, that list is likely going to be shorter. Yet we take the car to a mechanic and trust them. Why? The mechanic has intimate knowledge of how the car was made. What if that mechanic was then in the car with you forever after leaving?
This is the situation we find ourselves in as followers of Christ. We don’t simply see God every oil change. Spiritual disciplines are more like starting the car than changing the transmission fluid. Going to a worship service on Easter is not, nor will it ever be, enough. We trust that God will maintain us and guide us. The Holy Spirit can be our chauffeur. We can trust Him to lead us to be more like Christ. Not just change our oil.
“They are to entrust their lives to God by doing what is good. This doesn’t just mean rule-keeping, keeping your nose clean, not getting into trouble. ‘Doing good’ is much more positive than that. It means bringing fresh goodness, fresh love, fresh kindness, fresh wisdom into the community, into the family, to the people we meet on the street.
Wright, T. (2011). Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John and Judah (p. 90). SPCK; Westminster John Knox Press.
We have an active part in this. We entrust Him by doing what is good. This does not imply that God saves, sustains, or keeps us because of our good works. Rather, continuing to do good is how we live out our trust in the faithful Creator who has already acted toward us in grace. Our obedience is the response to God’s faithfulness, not the price we pay to receive it. Our actions should also show in those closest to us as well as those we are meeting for the first time.
We entrust our lives by spending regular time with God and actually trusting him to help us. Each and every breath is a gift from the Lord because our life is like a vapor. We entrust Him because relying on ourselves for our future and safekeeping is futile. Tomorrow feels so important to us today because it has not happened yet. Even to ourselves, when we look back, a single day probably looks like a second after decades. So why would we worry about small things when trusting God not only takes care of those but also our salvation? We can trust God because of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.
With Christ, we gain everything. We have no reason not to trust Him. Someone who is willing to suffer an excruciating death to save us clearly has our best interests in mind. All we have to do is trust and follow.
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