Awkward Surrender

Jeremiah 38:17 – “Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “The Lord God All-Powerful is the God of Israel. This is what he says, ‘If you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, your life will be saved, and Jerusalem will not be burned down. And you and your family will live.”

    Jeremiah was warning the people of Jerusalem that if they stayed they would perish, but if they went with the leading of God they would be saved.  It seemed strange for them to give up their home, their stronghold, their familiar. To surrender – oh no!  Yes, it appeared as if surrender was the end of the game, but what they did not realize was that sometimes we must have a temporary setback in order to have a future come back.  Those that listened and fought their own feelings of abandonment found out that Jeremiah was telling the truth and that they were saved. 

     There are instances in our lives when we just feel we have the right answer and we push ahead trying to make that solution a reality.  Then God tells us something to the contrary and it seems like following that directive is as if we are giving up everything.  It seems awkward to surrender; but what we must realize is that God knows the end of the story and is giving us a chance to rewrite the plot in our favor. 

     Surrender to God, even when it seems uncomfortable, uncanny or unclear.  God has your ‘salvation’ in mind and wants the best for you.  Surrendering may involve pruning, pride destruction, relocation of resources or just plain isolation.  But whatever it is; as God directs it is for your greater outcome in the end.  Lean not to your own understanding but acknowledge God and he shall direct your path. 

 

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to a make it a GREAT day!  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn