open hands

Proverbs 19:21

Grace and peace be with you right now friend! There’s something comforting about knowing exactly where you’re going, what’s next, and how it’s all going to work out. But what happens when life doesn’t follow our script? What do we do when we feel God nudging us to loosen our grip and trust Him instead?

For a long time, I thought surrender meant loss—losing my dreams, my desires, my carefully curated five-year plan. But what if surrender isn’t about losing? What if it’s about gaining something so much greater—peace, freedom, and a life that’s truly aligned with God’s best for us?

the illusion of control

Let’s be real—control is an illusion. We try to micromanage our circumstances, relationships, and futures, but at the end of the day, life has a way of reminding us that we’re not in charge. Unexpected setbacks, closed doors, detours—they all whisper the same truth: we were never meant to carry it all.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (NIV)

We can make all the plans we want, but at some point, we have to decide: do we trust our plan, or do we trust His?

fear of surrender

Maybe you’re thinking:

💭 “But what if surrender means I lose everything?”
💭 “What if God’s plan is different from mine?”
💭 “Can I really trust Him?”

Here’s the truth: surrender doesn’t mean we lose—it means we release. We exchange striving for resting, anxiety for peace, control for trust. And here’s the best part: God is trustworthy. His plan may not always be what we expected, but it is always good.

Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Even when we can’t see what He’s doing, we can trust His heart.

freedom lives in open hands

Imagine holding something fragile in your hands—maybe a delicate piece of glass. If you squeeze too tightly, you risk shattering it. But when you hold it with open hands, you protect it without crushing it.

That’s surrender.

God doesn’t ask us to let go because He wants to take from us. He asks us to trust Him because He knows what’s best for us. Freedom isn’t in control—it’s in open hands.

ready to let go?

Surrender is a daily decision. A choice to wake up and say, “God, I trust You more than I trust myself.”

Remember, surrender isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a lifestyle. The more we release, the freer we become.

So, what’s one thing you need to let go of today? Amen!

in harmony,

nancy

Pulse Check:

Physically open your hands in prayer and tell God what you’re releasing.