At first glance, surrender and strength seem like opposites. Strength is often defined by control, determination, and willpower. Surrender, by contrast, sounds like weakness or defeat.
But in God’s kingdom, the two are not only connected — they are inseparable.
Jesus Himself modeled this paradox. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). That act of surrender looked like loss to the world, but it became the greatest victory of all time.
What Surrender Really Means
Surrender doesn’t mean giving up on life or refusing responsibility. It means loosening your grip and trusting God with the outcomes. It’s choosing to rely on His strength rather than your own.
When we surrender, we acknowledge:
- We don’t have all the answers.
- We aren’t meant to carry every burden.
- We can live free because God is faithful.
The Strength Found in Letting Go
Paradoxically, surrender makes us stronger:
- Spiritually: Because God’s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- Emotionally: Because we stop fighting battles we were never meant to fight.
- Relationally: Because trust builds deeper connections than control ever could.
Living the Paradox
True strength is not gripping harder but resting deeper. It’s trusting that when you open your hands, God will place in them exactly what you need.
Surrender is not loss — it’s alignment. And when you align with God, you discover the kind of strength that endures storms and dances in freedom.
Closing Word
The paradox of surrender and strength is worth living. It frees you from striving, strengthens your soul, and anchors you in God’s unshakable love.
💡 Want to practice this paradox? Explore the Journey to Me Devotionals — daily reminders that strength and surrender are not opposites, but companions.
Rita Lynn Berry, EdS, LCMHC, is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the founder of NewVision Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC. She is also the creator of the Journey to Me™ program and Mend n Muse Media™, where she shares tools and reflections that support healing, resilience, and self-love.