How to Let Go and Let God: 5 Practical Ways to Surrender
The little one sits beneath a tall row of golden cone flowers. Ten feet tall, they tower like trees with vibrant sunny heads. As my boy throws stones into the dark water of Wolf Creek’s pools, I take a moment to consider how to let go and let God take control of my life.
Like a child heaving small boulders into a lazy creek, I want to learn to cast my cares onto the Lord.
I want to learn how to let my concerns rest with him instead of wading into the waters of doubt and picking them up again.
Most of us like the idea of giving God control; however, it’s not so easy to surrender the parts of our lives that matter deeply to us.
How to Let Go and Let God
How do we let go and let God have control in more realms of our lives?
Let’s explore some practical ways to surrender to God.
1. Stand on God’s promises instead of standing on your feelings.
Have you been ruminating over a problem or dwelling on how you feel about a difficult situation?
Let go and let God into this part of your life by standing on God’s promises instead of trusting your emotions.
Our emotions are God-given, and they are meant to be felt. However, after processing your emotions, return to God’s Truth. Speak God’s Word and his promises instead of ruminating on your feelings.
Here are some of God’s promises for our worried hearts:
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 1 Peter 3:13-14
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:18-19
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
2. Let go and let God care for your worries.
What is your greatest fear or worry today?
Are you worried about a situation involving a loved one? Are you afraid of what might happen in the future?
God is inviting you to surrender these worries and fears to him.
Every time the worry comes to mind, cast it down. Claim a fear-fighting Bible verse, and speak it instead. We overcome the enemy with the weapon of God’s Word.
How to Let Go and Let God Through Surrender:
3. Surrender your future to God.
Have you been trying to bring a dream to pass or produce an outcome in your life?
Do you feel frustrated because it’s not coming to pass?
Let go and let God take control by acknowledging that your future is in his hands. Do your best to steward today’s work, but recognize that the outcomes aren’t yours to control.
Let go and let God take control by acknowledging that your future is in his hands. Do your best to steward today’s work, but recognize that the outcomes aren’t yours to control. #trustingGod Share on XYou can trust God with your future.
4. Let go and let God handle the parts of your life that don’t make sense.
When life doesn’t make sense, most of us scramble to make sense of what’s happening. We ask God for answers and wrestle with him as we struggle to understand his ways.
We can let go and let God by remembering that his ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts.
We can trust God with every part of our lives—even the parts that don’t make sense.
One of the bravest and most life-changing prayers I’ve ever prayed went something like this: “Lord, I don’t understand what you’re doing, and I don’t even trust you just yet. Help me trust you with what I cannot understand.”
5. Discern the realms of your life that are not yours to fix or control.
Most of us are “fixers.” We like to show up and save the day with casseroles, cards, and cookies. When our loved ones are hurt, we do everything we can to fix what feels broken.
Meanwhile, some realms of our lives simply aren’t ours to fix.
Mom, it’s not up to you to fix your adult daughter’s faltering marriage, solve her heartbreaking struggle with infertility, or heal her relationship with her teenage child.
Loving wife, God never asked you to fix your husband’s bad habits and besetting sins. He never asked you to play the Holy Spirit.
Daughter, you might want to help your parents encounter Christ and change their ways. Meanwhile, God isn’t asking you to fix them. Do your best to offer kindness, and recognize that it’s not up to you to heal them.
Loving friend, you might want to see your closest friend find healing and wholeness more than anything in the world. However, your friendship will be healthier the moment you recognize that your friend is not yours to fix.
Stand beside her.
Cheer for her.
Encourage her.
Speak truth to her.
And leave the fixing to God.
~~~
As for me, I sit with the little one beside the creek until the sun blazes too hot, and he grows weary from casting stones. Somehow, I feel like I’ve cast something aside as well.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 7, 12, and 16, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. I also recently released a teen devotional called Anchored, designed to help teens learn key biblical narratives and apply them to their lives. You can find these books here or read more below. 
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Devotions for Boys by Boys
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
These Books Are Free on Kindle Unlimited: God Wants to Heal, Restore, and Refresh You
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. He also wants to help you establish a rhythm of meeting with him daily as you trust him with the hard parts of your life. Click here to explore two books that will guide you: Be Still and Trust and Lean Into Grace. They are free on the Kindle Unlimited program and for sale in print.
Download Your Free Devotional Here
Set Free: Let God Do What You Cannot explores ten realms in which most of us need God to work in our lives and bring deliverance. We’ll talk about finding freedom from fear, worry, insecurity, bad habits, emotional pain, and more. This short online devotional will bless you as you let God accomplish what you’ve been unable to achieve through willpower. Get your download for free with promo code GRACE or for a donation of 3.99 here. Thank you. This small gift helps keep this ministry running.
I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
