I was 19 years-old working at my family’s restaurant one morning when Rev. Jesse Mathes was sitting down eating sausage, eggs and hash browns. Rev. Mathes had a personality as big as his build; he looked like someone who played professional football in his younger years. However, his younger years were full of what he described as “drinking, fighting, women and drugs.” In the early 1970’s. Rev. Mathes gave his life to Christ and started Jesus is the Way Prison Ministry. Over his life he shared with thousands of men and women about the love and power of Jesus Christ. He was a bold and strong man for God’s kingdom.
Rev. Mathes and I would have conversations about faith whenever he came into the restaurant. What he said to me that morning was in his typical bold and pointed way. He said, “Michael, it’s not hard to surrender to Jesus.”
“It’s not hard to surrender to Jesus.”
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His comments made me think about how and why we overcomplicate surrender. If surrendering to God is simple, why do we overcomplicate it? Let me give you three reasons why, and, how we can uncomplicate surrender.
1. We have a “gap” in our understanding
I’m working on my Doctoral degree right now, and while doing research for my dissertation, I couldn’t find anything written on the subject. That can be a bit scary when you have to write 150 pages on your subject! One of my professors told me I hadn’t run into a problem; I have run into the perfect situation. Whenever you’re researching your dissertation topic and you can’t find information, that is called a “gap” in the research. If you find a “gap” in the research you should be excited, because you are onto something that no one else has discovered. That makes for a great dissertation topic! Often, when God invites us to surrender, we feel inadequate to trust him. That inadequacy becomes a “gap” in our faith. That “gap” should not scare us, it should excite us! Why? God wants to fill that “gap” with new and fresh faith. Don’t let the “gap” complicate things for you, you are onto something great!
“A gap in our faith should not scare us, it should excite us!”
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2. It not about what we are surrendering, it’s about developing a relationship with God
Recently I heard my friend. Rev. Shane Bishop, give an outstanding sermon on Abraham. During the sermon Shane mentioned a tension in the text of Abraham waiting to have a son. Abraham waited for a long time to have a son. Why didn’t God just give Abraham a son? Why did Abraham need to be patient? The waiting was for Abraham to have the opportunity to develop a relationship with God. I don’t know what God is asking you to surrender, but can I ask you a question? Do you think it’s really about what you are surrendering, or, is it really about having a better relationship with God? I would side with the latter. The complication comes when we think God cares about “what” we are surrendering, when really all he cares about is developing a relationship with us.
“Waiting on what we want, is an opportunity to develop our relationship with God.”
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3. The Unknown
I was visiting my parents’ house last summer when I noticed some new decor my mother bought. It was a perfectly square sign sitting up on a shelf that read “The best is yet to come.” Surrendering to God can feel complicated because we don’t know what’s on the other side of surrender. Here is what we need to know is on the other side; something better. How do we uncomplicate what will happen once we surrender, we believe “The best is yet to come.”
I’m on a roll, let me give you one more.
3 + 1. Too much Noise
If you are in the midst of something as spiritual as “surrender” you have to make room to hear from God. I was recently studying the spiritual discipline of solitude. Part of the discipline is getting away from the noises in our lives so we can be quiet. It forces a person to quiet down and give themselves the opportunity to think and hear from the Holy Spirit. I think that discipline is needed in our time more than ever before. Maybe surrender is complicated for you right now simply because there are too many noises around you. Take time to go to a park, on a hike, or find a secluded spot to hear yourself think and pray. When the noise goes away you will find the simplicity of surrender.
“Maybe surrender is complicated for you simply because there are too many noises around you.”
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This article and more about Surrender can be found at https://mychristchurch.com/spring2020flame/
Rev. Dr. Mike Wooton 
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