Virtue and Surrender
Our recording for Parenting Smarts today got me thinking
This morning I was joined by Emily Jaminet for a discussion on virtue. And ever since the podcast recording, I have been thinking about what she said.
“God, I give you my marriage, my family, and my future.”
It was the emptiness that allowed her to be filled.
Too often I am full.
Full of myself, full of my pride, full of my dreams, and or simply my plans.
I want life to be a certain way. I want my marriage, family, and future to look a certain way. Because of that, I do things intentionally to increase the likelihood of success. I read the studies, literature, research, and design protocols or ways of doing things that will help me achieve my goals. Then I share those on podcasts or in posts. I am not making any promises, but statistically speaking if you do certain things, you increase the likelihood of getting certain outcomes.
The danger of this equation is that it doesn’t always work. And it is hard when we do everything the right way, and we don’t get the right result. It seems unfair. Unjust even. The age-old question “Why does God allow suffering to happen to good people?” comes into play.
The experience Emily shared on the episode and her prayer of deep surrender resonates with me to my very core:
“God, I give you my marriage, my family, and my future”.
Sorrow is often necessary for real surrender.
In the moment it is hard to accept. We just want to escape the struggle and get back to a place of control. Instead of holding tighter to the self, let go. Get on your knees and surrender your relationships, your dreams, and your very future. Give it back to your Father. If the desire you have was placed there by the Father he will see it through. And if not, you don’t want it anyway!
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)