Psalm 83 finds the psalmist (and Israel) up to his neck in enemies. They’re surrounding Israel, they’re unrelenting, and they’re seemingly unstoppable.
The only recourse for the worshiper is to cry out to God, remind himself that He has won great victories before, and trust His intervention.
Blow them away, God, like straw in the wind,
like a tumbleweed in the wilderness!
Burn them up like a raging fire roaring down the mountainside;
consume them all until only charred sticks remain!
Chase them away like before a mighty storm and terrifying tempest.
−Psalm 83:13-15 (TPT)
Stop seeing problems to be fixed…
see these as areas to be surrendered.
Whether it’s a struggle I can’t seem to get past or a challenge I’m facing, I recognize that too often the first thing that happens is my brain goes into overdrive. I think of scenarios of how to get out of the current limitations or fearful situation. I analyze what the benefits or consequences of doing what I’m thinking. I formulate a plan of how to make it happen.
Do you see the incredibly important missing component? Yeah, it’s God.
More often than I care to admit, I do see these enemies coming against me; and instead of crying out to my gracious, loving Father, I fixate on the problem and finding a solution. Sometimes it works out okay (considering), and other times I’m in a worse place spiritually, financially, emotionally, or whatever else.
In every single case, you and I have an opportunity to surrender these things.
It’s not for His benefit, it’s for yours! I’d like to remind myself (and anyone reading this, of course) that surrender doesn’t only mean to give up or cease fighting. It also means to completely give yourself over to something, like surrendering to an emotion or an experience like letting waves wash over you in the ocean.
That’s God’s heart. We stop seeing problems that we have to solve, and we bring it immediately to the Lord as the psalmist did. It’s surrendering our rights to figure it out on our own or forcing something to happen. It’s surrendering to His love, His goodness, His wisdom, and His plans.
I shudder to think of all the time I have wasted, anxiety I’ve embraced, and miracles I’ve missed because I failed to surrender to Him. Until they are all dealt with, those enemies will keep coming. You don’t have to make the same mistakes.
It’s not about rushing around and doing whatever it is you think needs to be done. Just as Jesus said of Mary (Luke 10:38-42), you can choose the better−to sit at His feet, listen, and quiet yourself. That’s our surrender.
Have any thoughts? Do you identify with my difficulties as a fixer? What to you do to keep surrender in focus at those times? (Share in the comments)
Thank you, Jason, for this timely reminder today. It’s so easy for us to think we can do it ourselves when we should surrender each difficulty or circumstance to God. He has a history of putting things right, and we need to trust Him to do so every time.
Blessings!
This seems to be a lesson I get over and over again, but it feels like it’s sinking in! Trust isn’t always easy and life won’t slow down so we can catch up. So thankful for His goodness and presence that meets us again and again. And thank you so much, Martha.