I Thought I Surrendered to God—Until He Revealed the Truth

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A Wake-Up Call Through Daniel’s Story

Today I watched The Book of Daniel (the movie), and it made me realize how much I didn't recall or read in that biblical chapter. At the end of the movie, I was in awe of Daniel's devotion to God—how much he respected God and was submitted to whatever God wanted, whether it pleased himself or not.

After Jerusalem was sieged, Daniel and his Jewish brothers were put in the king's service. Daniel knew, through Jeremiah’s prophecy, that they would be in captivity for 70 years. He still submitted himself, spoke boldly, was respectful, never compromised his beliefs and traditions, and found favor.

Can you Surrender to God?

The difficulty I face is: like Daniel, can I be submitted to the Lord no matter what I feel or face—even to the point of death? Will God forever receive my worship and be enough in good times and bad? Daniel served many kings of his day but never allowed their sovereignty of the land to supersede God's ultimate sovereignty over the world.

Now in comparison, "Why do we seldom, if ever, experience the joy of the Lord, spiritual breakthrough, a deeper relationship with Him, or the release to step out in our area of gifting? Why can't we move forward into the purpose and destiny God has for us? The answer, I believe, lies in the word surrender.”

— Power of a Praying Woman, pg. 75

Are We Merely Submitting or Fully Surrendering?

I believed, as a Christian, that I just had to live a submitted life—yielding to God's authority and doing what is "right." I assumed that as long as I was living in righteousness, being a law-abiding citizen of God's kingdom, that would be enough. I thought I just needed to submit my plans to God and, as long as they weren't “selfish” in nature, He would automatically approve them. Submitting is “to let down, put down, or yield to another's will.”

However, surrender is about giving up to the power or possession of another. It is the release of control and dependence elsewhere.

The Illusion of Control and the Fear of Letting Go

Surrender is heard throughout the Christian faith. I believed I had done this with many things. As I sat thinking and praying one day, I was amazed to realize that many things were on the altar for God—my marriage, relationships, money, etc. But I wasn’t. I had not fully surrendered control of my will and heart. I still wanted to have a say. I wanted to be part of the meetings that decided what to do with my gifts and talents, and the length of each mission and task.

Complete surrender, in my mind, seemed like being controlled oppressively—or weak—and like a loss of identity. I never said any of this out loud or even realized I felt this way. But when I was met with things in my life that were out of my control, this truth boiled to the surface. Letting go and letting God became an impossible task that I couldn’t easily compute.

I always had the answers—and for the first time, I didn’t know what to do. It frightened me. I reached a dead end and felt the strength I carried begin to diminish. I don't know who taught me to see surrender this way, but I was kicking and screaming. My husband said I was like a person holding onto a rope, and every time I said “I am letting go,” I only released one hand and convinced myself I was truly letting go.

I was afraid of God Almighty dropping me—because of past disappointments.

I wish it was easy, but surrender just didn’t seem like strength and wisdom—it felt like weakness.

Pain Doesn’t Mean God Isn’t in Control

Daniel showed strength to stand up for God even in his surrender. I have tried to avoid pain and trouble and was convinced by the enemy that surrendering to God was approval for hardship. However, we see through Daniel's surrender, he overcame hardship through God.

Only God have the power to heal my body and broken heart, open doors that are shut, and make a way out of no way—just like He saved Daniel from the lion's den.

Could I just surrender and trust God enough to see these truths?

I heard Pastor Rick Warren say:

“Good and bad is happening to us at the same moment in life—not one after the other.”

The reality is: life will have challenges, but our response determines the outcome. The enemy wants me to think full surrender is a loss of identity, control, rights, and desires. However, the Bible doesn’t support this idea.

Luke 9:23-27 (MSG)

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?”

God Is the Only One Who Can Truly Carry the Weight

I have been my own 'savior' for so long, with my true Savior on the sideline. I had to drop that title the moment I realized there were things I just can’t do for myself. I can’t heal myself, open certain doors for breakthrough in my life, or guarantee anything—only God can.

Anxiousness, worry, fear, and uncertainty are all emotions I’ve felt when control was lost. I thought everything was in my hands—but God wanted me to know that I was in His. And if I surrender, I would find more rest than fight.

💬 Final Thoughts:

Surrender Isn’t Arrest—It’s Rest

Some of us hold God-like weight not meant for us to carry. If we surrender it, it can prevent further harm, casualties, loss, and pain. I struggle with this, because surrender is always seen as an arrest, like a punishment for a crime. But true surrender to Christ is for rest. God doesn’t want us to carry a heavy weight that weighs us down.

He sees how tired we are and how far we could go if we surrender ALL.

Could we let go, even if we don't have all the answers?

> Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

🙏🏾Prayer

God, give me the ability to let go the crushing weight of self-reliance, doubt and fear. Help me to be confident in your ability to have me rest; to sit still long enough to allow you to be the God of my life. May I truly surrender ALL. In Jesus Name Amen!

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