6. Faith’s Surrender to God

At this point resignation and the entire surrender of ourselves unto God must begin—namely, by being convinced that whatever befalls us from one moment to another, and whatever we lack, is by the order and express will of God. This conviction will make us content with everything, and cause us to look upon all that happens to us as coming from God and not from men. I entreat you, my dearest brethren, whoever you are that are willing, indeed to give yourselves to God, never to take yourselves back again when you have once given yourselves to Him. Remember that a thing that is given away is no longer at the disposal of the giver.

Surrender is the thing of greatest consequence in the whole Christian walk; indeed, it is the key to the whole inward life. Whoever fully surrenders himself can become perfectly united with Christ. We must therefore keep firmly surrendering, and resisting the pull of our reason. A great faith makes a great surrender; we ought to commit ourselves to God, “hoping against all hope.” Romans 4:18.

Surrender is the putting off of all care for ourselves, that we may leave all that concerns us entirely to the will of God. All Christians are exhorted to surrender themselves, for unto all it is said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or, ‘What shall we wear?’ For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.” Matthew 6:31-33. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6. “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16:3. “Commit your way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5.

Our surrender ought then to be an entire leaving of ourselves in the hands of God, both in respect to the outward and inward state, forgetting ourselves in a great measure, and thinking on God only. Thus the heart remains always free, contented and unentangled.

As to the practice of this virtue, it consists of a continual forsaking and losing of all self-will in the will of God, in renouncing each inclination as soon as it arises in us, however good it may seem to be. Thus we may confidently abide in a “state of indifference,” willing only what God from eternity has willed, indifferent as to all that pertains either to the body or the soul, temporal or eternal riches; forgetting what is past, giving up the present to God and leaving to His providence that which is to come; making ourselves content in the actual moment, because it brings with it the eternal order of God concerning us, and gives us a declaration of His will as infallible as it is common and inevitable for all: not attributing to the creature anything that befalls us, but beholding all things in God, and considering them as coming infallibly from His hand—our own sin being the only exception.

Suffer yourselves therefore to be led by God, as it shall please Him, both with respect to your outward and inward state.