050 : The Quiet Power of Surrender - How Letting Go Leads to Breakthrough
The Quiet Power of Surrender: How Letting Go Leads to Freedom
In this milestone 50th episode of The Refined Sisterhood podcast, Kait and I dive deep into the profound concept of surrender. Surrender can often seem like a scary word, especially in a world that prizes control, independence, and self-sufficiency. However, surrendering our plans, desires, and lives to God is the key to true freedom and peace.
In this episode, we explore how letting go of our need to control everything and trusting God with our lives opens the door to freedom, peace, and divine purpose. It may feel counterintuitive to surrender, but God’s word shows us time and time again that true victory comes not from striving but from releasing.
The Beauty of Surrender
Surrender is not about giving up—it’s about trusting that God has something far greater in store for us than anything we could achieve on our own. Surrendering means letting go of our expectations, our agendas, and our plans, and saying, “God, I trust You more than I trust myself.”
In this episode, we reflect on how surrender is woven throughout Scripture. Jesus Himself modeled surrender in His life and ministry. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus showed us that surrender isn’t about weakness; it’s about strength through submission to God’s will. When we surrender, we are aligning our hearts with God’s perfect plan for us.
The Fear of Surrender
For many of us, surrender can feel scary. We fear losing control, giving up our desires, or stepping into the unknown. We may worry about what we’ll have to sacrifice or what might happen if we let go.
Kait and I discuss the fears we’ve faced in our own walks with surrender—whether it’s letting go of certain dreams, stepping out of our comfort zones, or trusting God with our futures. We acknowledge that it’s okay to be scared, but we also encourage you to reflect on the truth that God is faithful. His plans for us are good, even when we don’t fully understand them in the moment.
Surrendering our fears and desires to God doesn’t mean we’re giving up on what’s good. It means we’re trusting that He knows what’s best for us and that His way is always better than ours.
The Power of Letting Go
Surrender isn’t just an act of obedience—it’s a pathway to freedom. When we surrender to God, we let go of the heavy burdens that we were never meant to carry. The pressure to “make it all happen,” to figure everything out, or to live up to impossible standards begins to lift.
Jesus invites us to lay down our burdens: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Surrender brings rest. It brings peace. It frees us from striving and trying to control every outcome.
In this episode, we discuss the peace that comes from releasing control and choosing to trust God’s sovereignty. When we choose to surrender, we can rest in the truth that God is in control, and He has a good plan for our lives.
Surrender Leads to Freedom
True freedom isn’t found in doing whatever we want—it’s found in surrendering to God’s will. This may seem paradoxical at first, but the more we let go, the more we experience the freedom that comes from living in alignment with God’s purposes.
When we surrender to God’s leading, we are free to live the life He’s called us to—without fear, without regret, and without the pressure to perform. We are free to rest in His love and trust that He is always working on our behalf.
Surrender also frees us to serve others. When we stop trying to control everything, we are able to focus more on loving and serving the people around us. Surrender shifts our focus from ourselves to God and others, and that is where true freedom lies.
How to Practice Surrender
In this episode, we also share some practical ways we’ve learned to practice surrender in our own lives:
Start with Prayer: Begin your day by asking God to help you surrender control. Invite Him to guide your thoughts, decisions, and actions. A simple prayer of surrender can be transformative: “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done.”
Release Expectations: Let go of your expectations for how things should go. Surrender your desires, plans, and outcomes to God, knowing that His plan is always better than yours.
Trust God’s Timing: Surrender your timetable to God. Trust that He will bring about what He’s promised in His perfect timing, even if it’s not on your schedule.
Surrender Your Fears: Fear is often what holds us back from surrender. In this episode, we talk about surrendering our fears to God, knowing that He is bigger than anything we’re afraid of.
Live with Open Hands: Practice living with an open heart and open hands. Don’t cling to things, people, or outcomes. Let go and trust that God will provide everything you need.
Closing Thoughts
As we celebrate our 50th episode, we reflect on how God has used surrender to lead us into greater freedom, peace, and purpose. Surrender isn’t a one-time act—it’s a continual, daily choice to trust God with our lives. When we let go of control and release our fears, we open ourselves up to the abundant life He promises.
Thank you for being with us on this journey. If you haven’t yet listened to “The Quiet Power of Surrender: How Letting Go Leads to Freedom”, click here to listen now.
With love,
Maddie & Kait