Surrender is a simple yet profound concept in spirituality. It’s not a technique or method; it’s a state of being, a letting go. Surrender is about releasing all the tension that comes from feeling separate and unsafe. It’s about trusting in something greater than ourselves, even in moments of crisis or distress.
Surrender is not just for moments of distress. Ideally, it’s a daily practice. But it’s not always easy. Sometimes, it takes a catalyst to push us to a point where we must choose between focusing or surrendering. In those moments, we might feel so overwhelmed that we don’t know what to think or feel. But that’s when surrender can happen. We become so tired of not being ourselves that we’re willing to let go of safety.
This idea transcends gender. Both men and women can feel unsafe and vulnerable. We all have had difficult experiences and lived in distorted environments. But there comes a breaking point where we can’t continue this way. We realize that resisting life is creating the absence of well-being. We start to trust in the Creator and let go of our sense of separation.
Surrender is about prioritizing God’s truth over human truth. It’s about choosing the freedom of expression, joy, choice, and free will over conditioning. At some point, there’s a tipping point. Until then, we might try various methods and techniques to find peace. But the heart of the spiritual journey is surrender to God. This is the essence of devotion and spirituality.
No method can replace surrender. In surrender, we find the power of God, the safety that never left us. It comes not before surrender but after. It’s not something we can safely maneuver into. It’s about prioritizing freedom, faith, trust, love, and knowing ourselves over what we think we know based on human experiences.
Surrender is knowing that God is greater than all humans could ever be. It’s understanding that while we should cherish our bodies, minds, and social relationships, there comes a point where something becomes more important, more truthful for us to trust in. We’re always trusting in something. When we feel unsafe, we’re fully surrendered to the idea of not being safe. But what’s more true? God’s reality as you, or the physical human experience?
From a physical point of view, we all feel unsafe to some extent. But is that going to stop us from radiating our true selves? We chose to be born, knowing we would die. So, if we’re afraid of death, it means we’re not fully embracing life. Fear of death translates into fear of emotional, social, and existential death. But the heart of surrender is opening up to the truth that we are eternal, immortal beings.
Surrender is the prioritization of your divine life over your human life. When you prioritize your true life over the conditioned human life, you’ll experience a powerful moment of surrender. Your life will never be the same. You might need to surrender many more times, but that initial moment is transformative. You realize you’re not here for the image of yourself created by others. You’re here as an expression of God, joyful, playful, compassionate, and eager to expand and share the message of your true being.
Read more – Surrender to openness by Bentinho Massaro
Quote: “Surrender is the heart of spirituality, the letting go of all that is not you, to embrace the eternal truth that you are a divine expression of God.” – Anonymous
Spiritual Reference: “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10 (Bible)
Summary Points
- Surrender is not a technique, but a letting go of the internal struggle against life.
- We often operate from a place of perceived unsafety, investing our faith in fear instead of the divine truth of our connection.
- True surrender is prioritizing our divine potential—our inherent safety and freedom—over the limitations of our human conditioning.
- This process involves shifting focus, trusting in a power greater than ourselves, and letting go of the need for external safety.
Actions
- Notice Tension: Take a moment to scan your body and mind. Where are you holding tension, physically or emotionally? Can you identify any areas where you feel a sense of ‘unsafety’?
- Reflect on Faith: What or where do you habitually place your faith? Is it invested in your fears, or in a sense of something greater and more supportive?
- Practice Small Surrenders: Choose one minor area where you tend to control or resist. It could be the outcome of a situation or letting go of a particular expectation. Experiment with consciously letting go and observing what shifts within you.
- Seek Support (Optional): If the concept of surrender resonates, consider exploring modalities that might support you. These could include meditation, breathwork, spiritual study, or connecting with a trusted teacher/guide.