How many of you have ever tried to control a situation that felt completely out of your hands? Maybe you’ve whispered prayers about surrender or said the words—I trust You, God—but the ache and anxiety still sat heavy in your chest. I’ve been there. And friend, I’ll be honest: learning how to surrender to God is not a one-and-done lesson. It’s a daily invitation. Sometimes it’s an every-hour kind of thing.
In our recent podcast episode, we talked about what it actually looks like to find peace through Holy Spirit-led surrender, especially when you’re in a tough season. Maybe you’re wrestling with regret from the past, or you’re carrying the weight of choices you wish you could erase. Maybe you feel like you’ve tried every right step, but peace seems to slip through your fingers. Can I tell you something? You’re not alone, and you’re not without hope.
What Does Surrender Really Mean and Why Is It So Hard?
Here's the thing about learning how to surrender to God: most of us think surrender means doing all the right faith-things. We read our Bible, pray, check the boxes, and try to let go of what hurts. But in real life, surrender is a lot less about what we do, and a lot more about truly letting God be the One in control—especially when we don’t see a way forward. Most of us say we want to trust Jesus, but sometimes we’re holding tight to the very things He’s asking us to release.
I remember listening to Jamie on the podcast, sharing her story of wrestling with shame after abortion. She said the moment things began to shift was when she realized she couldn’t carry that burden by herself anymore. She had to let God be in charge, even of her pain. And isn’t that all of us, at some point? We need to learn how to surrender to God, not just as a one-time act, but as a posture of living with open hands.
Why Surrender Can Feel Like Losing
Let me be honest. The world tells us to push through, to stay strong, to fix what’s broken. Surrender sounds like giving up. But with God, surrender is not the end of the story. It’s the beginning of peace. When you lay down what you cannot fix, you create space for the Holy Spirit to step in and do what only He can do. You don’t lose yourself in surrender—you finally find who God made you to be.
How to Surrender to God When Your Heart Is Burdened
I hear from women all the time who ask me, “How do I actually do this? What does surrender look like when the pain or anxiety keeps creeping back in?” Learning how to surrender to God can sound spiritual, but it gets real in the everyday moments. These are some simple steps I keep coming back to when I feel overwhelmed.
- Tell God the truth about what you’re feeling—no pretending, just honesty.
- Release your need to control the outcome (this is hard, I know).
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you trust where you can’t see a way.
- Keep showing up. Sometimes surrender is a prayer you pray every morning, or every hour.
- Receive the peace that comes, even if your situation hasn’t changed yet.
Here’s a verse that has anchored me more times than I can count: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 CSB) It’s not about having easy answers, it’s about letting God’s peace meet you in the unknown.
It’s Not About “Doing It Right”—It’s About Relationship
If you grew up in church, you might have heard a lot about surrender but never really understood what it meant relationally. We talk a lot about trusting God, but sometimes no one teaches us how. In that same podcast, we talked about what the Holy Spirit does in our lives. It’s not a distant idea—He leads, comforts, and reminds us to let go of false control so we can finally live in freedom.
Part of learning how to surrender to God is learning to tune into the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudges. Sometimes He’ll ask you to let go of anger you’ve held for years. Sometimes He’ll invite you to trust a broken relationship or a fearful tomorrow. But the end result? It’s always peace, even if your situation hasn’t changed a bit on the outside.
What If Surrender Doesn’t Change Anything?
Can I say something that might feel a little tender? Sometimes you practice how to surrender to God and things still feel hard. Maybe the relationship still hurts, or you keep wrestling with memories you wish you could erase. But here’s where hope begins. Every time you practice surrender, you’re saying, “God, I trust You more than what I see.”
Peace is not the absence of pain, but the presence of God right there with you. That’s true whether you lead a group, share your story, or keep it between you and Jesus alone. I remember Jamie saying that her healing took time. There were moments of boldness and moments of quiet. Both required surrender. And maybe that’s what we all need—a willingness to let God do the deep work, even if it isn’t instant.
What to Do When Surrender Feels Like a Losing Battle
It’s okay to struggle with it. I’ve had days where surrender was the very last thing I felt like doing. That’s when I remind myself, the invitation is to come honestly, not perfectly. Sometimes God’s peace comes right away. Sometimes it’s a slow unfolding. The promise is never that you’ll have an easy road, but that you’ll never have to walk it alone.
Choosing Community When You’re Learning How to Surrender to God
Finding peace isn’t something we do in isolation. That’s why in the episode, we talked about resources for healing groups and Christ-centered community. I’m so grateful for the women I’ve met in those circles, and I’ve seen again and again that God meets us in the middle of our mess—not once we have it all together. If you’re walking through a hard season and trying to figure out how to surrender to God, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out and connect. Send a message. Join a group. Let someone else hold hope for you when you’re struggling to believe it yourself.
Surrender and Sharing Your Story
One thing we talked about is that not every healed person needs to shout their story from the rooftops. Some of us share publicly, some quietly. The result is the same: when you’re willing to surrender, God gets all the glory and you walk lighter. That is real freedom. That is real peace.
Simple Ways to Start Surrendering to God Today
- Start and end your day with honest prayers about what’s heavy.
- Release one thing at a time—don’t try to fix everything in a day.
- Find a trustworthy friend or group to pray with you.
- Practice gratitude for the small signs of God’s faithfulness.
- Read Scripture that reminds you of God’s character, not your own limitations.
Can I pray for you? Lord, for the friend reading this, give them courage to surrender even the hardest things. Let them feel Your peace, the kind that doesn’t make sense by the world’s standards but that holds them up when they feel like falling down. Thank You that we never walk alone. Amen.
If you’re ready to learn more about how to surrender to God (or just need a friend to sit beside you in it), go listen to our latest podcast episode. It’s full of honest stories, gentle encouragement, and practical hope for anyone who’s ready to say yes to Jesus—no matter what your story holds. Together, we get to find peace that lasts. That’s a promise you can count on.
Want more encouragement like this? Visit Made Whole Community for healing resources, or listen to other episodes of Perspectives Into Practice. And if today’s words gave you hope, share this article or the full podcast episode with someone who needs it. Our stories make a difference, for our good and God’s great glory.
