Embracing Surrender: Finding Peace in Faith
Summary
In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves wrestling with control, doubt, and the desire to have things our way. This struggle is not new; it is a part of the human condition, as illustrated by the story of Jonah. Jonah's narrative is a profound reflection of our own lives, where we often find ourselves in storms, both literal and metaphorical, trying to navigate through them with our own strength. Yet, the story of Jonah teaches us that surrendering to God's way is the path to true rescue and peace.
Jonah, a prophet chosen by God, found himself in a storm because he chose to go his own way instead of following God's command. This decision led him to a place of desperation, much like the sailors who were caught in the storm with him. The sailors, in their desperation, called out to any god they could think of, trying to control the situation by their own means. It was only when they surrendered to Jonah's God that the storm ceased, illustrating the power of surrender and faith.
Jonah's journey didn't end with the storm. He found himself in the belly of a great fish, a place of complete helplessness and lack of control. It was in this dark and confined space that Jonah turned to prayer and praise, choosing to surrender his situation to God. This act of surrender and praise, even in the darkest moments, is a powerful reminder that God is with us in our struggles, ready to rescue us when we let go of our need to control.
The story of Jonah challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we like the sailors, trying to row harder and harder, relying on our own strength? Or are we like Jonah, needing to surrender our ways and praise God even when it seems impossible? The journey of faith is complex, filled with moments of doubt and struggle, but it is also a journey of surrender and trust in a God who is consistent and faithful.
Key Takeaways:
- The desire for control is a common human trait, often stemming from past trauma, anxiety, or personality traits. This need for control can complicate our faith journey, as following Jesus requires surrendering our ways to His. Recognizing this struggle is the first step towards true surrender. [01:33]
- Doubt is a natural part of faith, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Abraham and John the Baptist. These stories remind us that faith and doubt can coexist, and that God remains faithful even when we struggle. Embracing this complexity can deepen our relationship with God. [04:13]
- Storms in life often reveal where we place our trust. Like the sailors, we may call out to various "gods" or rely on our own strength. True peace comes when we surrender to God, acknowledging that He is in control and can calm the storms we face. [12:30]
- Jonah's time in the belly of the fish symbolizes moments of complete helplessness. In these times, prayer and praise become acts of surrender, shifting our focus from our problems to God's greatness. This surrender allows God to work in our lives in unexpected ways. [21:39]
- Praise is a powerful act of sacrifice that focuses and fills us with the Spirit of God. It shifts our perspective from our struggles to God's promises, reminding us of His presence and power in our lives. Continual praise is essential for spiritual growth and renewal. [25:10]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:33] - The Struggle for Control
[03:01] - Faith and Doubt in Scripture
[04:13] - Lessons from Abraham and John
[06:32] - The Complexity of Faith
[07:41] - Surrendering Control
[09:19] - Jonah's Story Begins
[12:30] - Storms and Desperation
[13:13] - The Sailors' Surrender
[15:39] - Jonah's Dark Turn
[18:09] - Jonah's Prayer in the Fish
[19:10] - The Reality of Jonah's Predicament
[21:39] - Jonah's Response: Prayer
[23:01] - The Power of Praise
[25:10] - Being Filled with the Spirit
[28:16] - God's Consistent Rescue
[30:01] - Surrendering to Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Jonah 1:1-17
- Jonah 2:1-10
- Matthew 11:2-11
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Jonah's initial reaction to God's command, and how did it lead to the storm? [09:19]
2. How did the sailors initially respond to the storm, and what actions did they take before turning to Jonah's God? [13:13]
3. Describe Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish. What was his response during this time? [21:39]
4. How did Jesus respond to John the Baptist's doubts, and what does this reveal about faith and doubt coexisting? [04:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jonah's story teach about the consequences of trying to control our own lives instead of following God's direction? [09:19]
2. How does the sailors' eventual surrender to Jonah's God illustrate the power of surrender and faith in difficult situations? [15:39]
3. In what ways does Jonah's prayer in the belly of the fish demonstrate a shift from desperation to surrender and praise? [23:01]
4. How does Jesus' affirmation of John the Baptist, despite his doubts, challenge our understanding of faith and doubt? [04:13]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you tried to control a situation in your life. What was the outcome, and how might surrendering to God have changed it? [07:41]
2. When faced with a personal "storm," what are some "gods" or coping mechanisms you tend to rely on? How can you shift your focus to God instead? [12:30]
3. Jonah's prayer in the fish was an act of surrender. What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God, and how can you begin to do that this week? [23:01]
4. How can you practice praising God in difficult times, and what impact might this have on your spiritual growth? [25:10]
5. Consider a current struggle or doubt in your faith journey. How can you embrace this complexity and trust in God's consistent faithfulness? [06:32]
6. Identify a specific way you can let go of control in your relationships or work life and trust God's plan. What steps will you take to implement this change? [03:01]
7. How can you use the story of Jonah to encourage someone else who is struggling with control or doubt in their faith journey? [30:01]
Devotional
Day 1: The Illusion of Control
In our lives, the desire for control often stems from past experiences, anxiety, or inherent personality traits. This need to control can complicate our faith journey, as following Jesus requires us to surrender our ways to His. Recognizing this struggle is the first step towards true surrender. Like Jonah, who chose his own path and ended up in a storm, we too can find ourselves in turbulent situations when we try to navigate life on our own terms. The story of Jonah reminds us that surrendering to God's way is the path to true rescue and peace. [01:33]
Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): "For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are trying to maintain control? How can you begin to surrender this area to God today?
Day 2: Embracing Doubt in Faith
Doubt is a natural part of faith, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Abraham and John the Baptist. These stories remind us that faith and doubt can coexist, and that God remains faithful even when we struggle. Embracing this complexity can deepen our relationship with God. Jonah's story illustrates this as he wrestles with his own doubts and decisions, yet ultimately finds God's faithfulness in his journey. [04:13]
Mark 9:24 (ESV): "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'"
Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment of doubt in your faith journey. How can you invite God into that space to strengthen your belief?
Day 3: Trusting God in Life's Storms
Storms in life often reveal where we place our trust. Like the sailors in Jonah's story, we may call out to various "gods" or rely on our own strength. True peace comes when we surrender to God, acknowledging that He is in control and can calm the storms we face. The sailors' eventual surrender to Jonah's God illustrates the power of faith and the peace that follows. [12:30]
Psalm 107:28-29 (ESV): "Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed."
Reflection: Think of a current "storm" in your life. What steps can you take to surrender this situation to God and trust in His control?
Day 4: Finding Strength in Helplessness
Jonah's time in the belly of the fish symbolizes moments of complete helplessness. In these times, prayer and praise become acts of surrender, shifting our focus from our problems to God's greatness. This surrender allows God to work in our lives in unexpected ways. Jonah's prayer in the fish is a powerful reminder of God's presence in our darkest moments. [21:39]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: When have you felt completely helpless? How can you use prayer and praise to shift your focus to God's greatness in those moments?
Day 5: The Power of Praise
Praise is a powerful act of sacrifice that focuses and fills us with the Spirit of God. It shifts our perspective from our struggles to God's promises, reminding us of His presence and power in our lives. Continual praise is essential for spiritual growth and renewal. Jonah's story shows us that even in the darkest times, praise can lead to transformation and deliverance. [25:10]
Hebrews 13:15 (ESV): "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."
Reflection: How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine, especially during challenging times? What impact do you think this could have on your spiritual growth?
Quotes
"And when he does not get what he wants, when he doesn't get his way, he loses it. And we're crate training him, you know, especially at night because we don't want to wake up in the morning and our house be completely destroyed. So we're crate training him at night. And those first few nights, that didn't go too well. I mean, it's like just screaming and wailing. And our neighbors probably thought like, dude, what is going on? It's Halloween. Like they're doing some weird stuff over there. And it was just our puppy literally losing its mind. And in one of these nights, while I was lying there listening to the wailings of a puppy, I realized in my, I just want sleep brain, that this puppy is living out a perfect picture of humanity. Like right, right then in that moment. When we don't get our way, we have a problem with that. Now we may not scream and cry like a puppy who doesn't want to be in a crate, but we have our own way of showing" [00:00:39] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"This my way or the highway life we live, it gets even more complicated when we throw faith into the conversation. When we mix in spirituality with the desire to control. And when we do this as we are trying to control, we're not going to be able to control. We're not going to be able to control. We're trying to follow Jesus with our lives. It gets complex. How do we follow Jesus in his ways over our own ways? What does that even look like. And scripture is full of people who struggled with this." [00:02:41] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"People who doubted God on their journey. People who had doubts with their faith or they had idols in their lives, things that they put above God in their life. They constantly disobeyed God or they went their own way. And yet they were still chosen by God all throughout scripture. They're the prophets and priests, men and women of strong faith, even when their faith was not perfect. And a lot of times, if we're really honest with ourselves, that can make us uncomfortable. It makes us uncomfortable to think about the people in scripture who had doubts, who struggled, who disobeyed God. We think that in life we cannot have struggles and faith at the same time. But life is nothing but struggles. And faith is the choice we always make and come back to. And faith is the choice we always make and come back to. And faith is the choice we come back to in the midst of our struggles." [00:03:11] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And Jesus's response to that is he tells the people, go back and tell John all the things you've seen and heard. And then Jesus turns to the people, to the crowd, and he proceeds to tell them nobody is greater than John. No one who has ever lived is greater than John, even in the middle of his doubt. The point is, when we are following Jesus, it is a journey of complexities. There are highs and lows, moments of great faith and moments of confusing doubt. But what is beautiful to me is that in all of our inconsistencies, God always remains consistent." [00:05:35] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Maybe you're here today and you're following the ways of Jesus, but you wrestle with exactly what that means. Or maybe you're here and you're following whatever you think is best. It's like, what are my intentions? What's my best way of doing this? And you're following that. Maybe it just sometimes leaves you empty. Maybe you're here and there are moments of faith mixed with moments of doubt. Or maybe you're just in all those categories. I know at times I can find myself with nothing but inconsistencies." [00:06:32] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And really wanting control is at the root of everything in our lives. If we're honest with ourselves, we want to control. We want to control our surroundings. We want to control our relationships. We want to control our lives. And when we don't feel in control, anxiety creeps in. Fear shows up. But when it comes to faith, when it comes to following Christ, this is why it is so difficult because you are giving up. You are giving up. You are giving up. You are giving up. You are giving up that control." [00:07:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Because a lot of what we're talking about in general through Jonah is life. It's storms. It's struggles. Doing things our way. And a big theme that we see over and again in this book, literally and metaphorically, is this, that life our way keeps us in the storm. But life God's way will always rescue us out of the storm. Living life our way, it keeps us in the storm. But life God's way rescues us out of it. And we'll see that through Jonah's story." [00:08:42] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time, Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. So the captain went down after him. How can you sleep at a time like this? He shouted. Get up and pray to your God. Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives. I think all of us in this room at some point in our life, maybe now, maybe in the past, maybe in the future, all of us in this room are either Jonah or the sailors at some point in life. And a lot of times we're not going to know which one we are until we're in the middle of a storm and we see how we're acting in our response. Then we figure out which one that we are. And then we figure out which one that we are. And then we figure out which one that we are. But let's take the sailors first." [00:09:55] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Instead, so instead of throwing Jonah overboard like he told him to, the sailors rode even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea. It was too violent for them. And they couldn't make it. Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah's God. So back to present day for a moment. In your storm, when you find yourself in a difficult moment, in a difficult season, when life's hard, do you find yourself just rowing harder and harder? You're just rowing and rowing and rowing and rowing and doing everything you can do. What can I do? How can I work harder? How can I do this? And it's me, me, me, me, me. How can I get out? How can I get out of this out of my own power? The problem is, though, is you're caught in the undertow." [00:14:55] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And this says the sailors were awestruck by the Lord's great power. And then they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. Immediately the storm stops. And when it did, they offer sacrifices to God. They surrendered their ways of doing things over to God. They tried it all themselves and nothing ever worked. They were at the end of their rope, and they realized it's actually, it might be the end of my rope, but God is right there, and his hand is just right there waiting for me to grab onto. That's what they realized in that moment. They gave up control. They surrendered, and they made it through the storm. They were awestruck by God. I love that word. They were just in awe, so much so that they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him." [00:16:50] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Jonah comes to this point where he surrenders everything back over to God. He has this prayer moment literally at his last moment. He's like, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. He's knocking on death's door, a prayer moment of surrender. And then he has a choice to praise and a choice to obey. So he prays to God and then he chooses to praise God and then he chooses to obey God. He says, I will fulfill all my vows. Like there is a little bit of hope there. He's like, God, maybe you still can't rescue me. I will obey you, God. Those are two very important choices that have to happen, usually when we do not want them to happen." [00:23:15] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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