The word “surrender” carries negative connotations. Surrender after a battle means you lost. Nobody wants to be a loser. Surrender can represent quitting or giving up. Nobody wants to be a quitter. We may think, “Why would I want to lose my dream? Why would I let go of what I want most?” Surrender actually means to give oneself or something into the power of another person. Therefore, a surrendered dream is something you desire, but are willing to turn over to God and entrust it to Him. You say, “Here it is God. I yield it to you.”
We’re usually not people who surrender; we’re clingers. I know. I write this blog with a hand that has been crippled from clutching a dream far too long. My greatest desire was for a family. I absolutely adore children and wanted nothing more than to be a mother. I dreamed of the picket fence and six children. My utmost joy would have been to decorate the nursery, attend sporting games, or help with homework, but my house continued to sit quietly without the laughter from young voices.
Why would God give me such a strong desire and not allow it to become reality? Surrender. I have to love Him more than my dream. I always thought in the back of my mind that my dream would come to fruition because I read God’s Word and thought He had made promises to honor our desires. And He is faithful, isn’t He? I believed it to be true because I had my bag full of dreams. I had the house, the husband, and the children nestled inside, and I carried it with me everywhere. I believed in scripture and I was standing on the promises such as Mark 11:24, Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. But I forgot one little fact: God’s will. He says, “Child, trust me. I know what’s best for you. I have a plan. I need you for my purposes. Hope in me.” God soon revealed He had called me to singleness for His purposes.
What about you? Are you holding on to something you’ve always wanted and desired? Are you clinging to a dream? I have a revelation to share: God never promised you your dream. He never promised you’d get married. He never promised your family would be thriving and healthy. He never promised you wouldn’t be betrayed by a friend. We believe that if it’s what we want, then surely it is what God wants for us. Our desires become a hindrance to God’s desires. Do you love Him more than your dream? You’ll have to choose: Jesus or what you are clutching in your hand.
People have inquired as to how I was able to finally let go of my dream family. Three steps led me to total surrender. It began with a mission to discover God at the center of my being.
1, Say yes to God first. Instead of seeking your desires, He tells you to seek His instead. Jeremiah 29:13 (MSG) says, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. When you seek Him earnestly, you might find that your desires change because you’re in the center of His will.
2. Talk to God honestly about your pain. He cares. Psalm 62:8 instructs you to Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Follow David’s example in the Psalms in crying out to God.
3. Let go. This step is the most difficult. Open your hand and surrender your dream, placing it at the feet of Jesus. Matthew 10:39 proclaims, If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.
God has the best picked out for you. Drop the baggage you’re carrying and travel the road toward God’s destination. Surrender your dream and see what He holds for you. You won’t be disappointed.
About Shelley Pulliam
Howdy! (A girl from Oklahoma has to use this as her greeting) I’m Shelley Pulliam, executive director of Arise Ministries and former teacher of hormone-filled 8th graders. But my real claim to fame rests in my award as second grade spelling bee champ and my recent gun-handling skills as I train to competition shoot. It helps me be on guard when Satan comes knocking. I’m a voracious reader and can frequently be found at the theater enjoying movie marathons where my record stands at six in one day. I’m a single, never married, who loves to pour into children at every opportunity. Let me know if you have any for sale. You can connect with me on social media. https://www.instagram.com/shelleypulliam/