When David said in Psalm 38:17
“I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me,”
he wasn’t being poetic. He was being real.
That kind of prayer—raw, desperate, painful—is exactly what God invites. He doesn’t want polished performances. He wants surrender.
Surrender = A willful act of submission and trust in God’s authority, wisdom, and goodness.
It’s not passive. It’s an active decision to: Obey God even when it’s hard, Trust Him when you don’t understand, Let go of control, ego, and self-preservation.
What Surrender Is NOT:
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It’s not weakness. It’s trusting that God’s power is better than your hustle.
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It’s not apathy. You still move, but you move in obedience—not in panic.
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It’s not a one-time event. It’s daily. Hourly. Sometimes minute-by-minute.
Real Surrender Looks Like:
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Letting go of the outcome.
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Saying “yes” when it’s costly.
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Forgiving when you want revenge.
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Worshipping in the middle of suffering.
Pray Like You Mean It
God already knows the truth. Don’t clean it up. Don’t pretend to be okay. Cry out.
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Psalm 38 shows the full weight of confession and suffering.
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Daniel 9 gives us a model of intercessory prayer:
“We are praying to you because you are merciful, not because we have done right.” — Daniel 9:18
Meekness: Power Under Control
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” in Matthew 5:5, He wasn’t talking about being soft. The biblical idea of meekness is controlled strength, not passive weakness.
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Moses was meek—yet stood toe-to-toe with Pharaoh.
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Jesus was meek—yet rebuked tyrants and flipped tables.
Turn the Other Cheek—But Don’t Back Down
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:39:
“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…”
This wasn’t a call to be a doormat. It was a challenge to respond without retaliation, to expose injustice without becoming unjust yourself.
“Never avenge yourselves… leave it to the wrath of God.” — Romans 12:19
There’s a lot of pain and hurt in this world. It’s easy to feel that no one understands what you’re going through. Take that pain to Jesus. Even when you feel like He’s far away, He’s always been right beside you.
Pray – just talk to God and tell Him how you feel. All the anger and hurt, the things you’re afraid to say to others – you can say it to Jesus. He already knows and is just waiting for you to tell Him; build relationship. Then find another trusted believer and pray with them. Take the next step. Let’s go…
