Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB) - Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (The Message vs. 13: Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.)
What does it mean to surrender all? Do we even understand that concept? When we look at the ultimate example of surrender, we must look to Christ. Philippians 2:8 says, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross." Have we ever really thought of surrendering to that point or being willing to surrender to that point? The disciples did. They sacrificed everything, including their lives for the sake of the gospel, and yet, I struggle to get off the couch to go to church.
When we look at Philippians 4:11-13 we all want, 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me', but we don't pay close attention to the beginning of that passage. Paul is talking about being content while he was in prison. Prison for Paul was much different than the prison we think of today. It was most likely some solid stone room where he was literally in chains. He was content to be there. His strength he found in Christ in that circumstance began with his full and utter surrender to whatever God wanted to do in His life. Have you ever been able to pray, "God, do whatever you want in my life, even if it is uncomfortable?"
I think that when we get to a place where we are serving God and it gets uncomfortable. That is when we must rely on Him. I believe that is one reason why we go through difficulties. God's desire above anything is that we live in a close relationship with Him.
The year I spent in Panama was an excruciatingly painful time for me, which I know sounds weird because I was on the mission field. However, I was struggling with allowing God to tear down the walls I had put around my heart from past heartbreaks, in order for Him to prepare me for my future husband. He had to get me to a place where I was completely alone to go through this process. With those walls up, I was not in a place to allow a man to love me. It took God a year of just me and Him taking those bricks down one by one before I was free to allow love into my life. I share that story because I have never been closer to God than in those moments. There were times that I could almost physically feel Him holding me and speaking to my spirit. I had told Him that I wanted Him to do whatever was necessary to get me to the place of finding the man He wanted me to marry. I had fully surrendered that part of my life to Him.
I recently had to deal with another area of surrender in my life, and it took me way too long to decide to do it. I think partly because I remember the last time I fully surrendered, and it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to go through. Surrendering is never easy. It’s not a natural thing for us to give control of our life to someone else or it never has been for me. Our obedience to Christ must be complete; it must be in every area of our life and with complete disregard for whatever may happen. Following Christ is not a matter of making deals with Him. We can't say, "Lord I will do whatever you ask, as long as things don't get difficult." Our sacrificial life must be to the point of being content in all circumstances. That is the embodiment of surrendering all.
"All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit
Truly knowing that Thou art mine
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all (ooh)"
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