Embracing Tension: Planning with Surrender and Trust

Today’s time together was an invitation to embrace the tension between planning and surrender, to honor our God-given desires and goals while radically accepting that the outcome is ultimately in God’s hands. We began by grounding ourselves—literally, through mindful attention to our feet and body, and spiritually, by reflecting on the words from James: “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” This truth humbles us, reminding us that our control is limited, and our lives are fleeting. Yet, rather than leading to despair, this awareness opens us to a deeper peace: the peace that comes from trusting God’s path, even as we set intentions and make plans.

Throughout our movements and stretches, we practiced letting go—allowing gravity to do its work, just as we allow God to guide our steps. We explored the importance of setting goals and standards, not as a way to guarantee outcomes, but as a means of connecting more deeply to the Christ within us. Journaling and self-reflection were encouraged, not to foster anxiety or overthinking, but to create space for honest discernment: What do we want? What are we avoiding? What would it feel like to truly succeed? These questions help us clarify our desires, but we hold them lightly, knowing that God’s wisdom and timing surpass our own.

We also acknowledged the pitfalls of both over-preparation and last-minute chaos, seeking instead a middle way: to be intentional and prepared, yet unattached to results. This is the heart of radical acceptance—showing up faithfully, doing our part, and releasing the rest to God. Through prayer, breath, and movement, we invited God’s peace to fill us, trusting that “in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” The encouragement is to keep showing up, to pour into ourselves and our callings, and to remember that everything we need is already within us, because Christ is within us.

As we closed, we were reminded to keep Jesus at the center of every plan, to ask if He is truly at the heart of our intentions, and to rest in the assurance that even when we don’t understand, God’s plan is unfolding. The invitation is to continue this week in reflection, prayer, and mindful movement, connecting to the Christ within and aligning ourselves with God’s truest path.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Radical acceptance is not passive resignation, but an active trust in God’s sovereignty. We are called to set goals and make plans, but to hold them with open hands, knowing that our lives are a mist and that God’s wisdom far exceeds our own. This posture frees us from anxiety and allows us to experience true peace, even in uncertainty. [01:18]
• 2. The practice of mindfulness—through breath, movement, and journaling—helps us identify both our desires and our areas of tension, physically and spiritually. By honestly naming what we want, what we avoid, and what holds us back, we create space for God to meet us in our vulnerability and guide us toward healing and wholeness. [10:41]
• 3. There is a sacred balance between preparation and surrender. Over-preparing can lead to anxiety and rigidity, while under-preparing breeds chaos and missed opportunities. The invitation is to be intentional and diligent, yet unattached to outcomes, trusting that God establishes our steps and that our faithfulness is what matters most. [21:49]
• 4. Our identity is rooted not in our achievements or the fulfillment of our plans, but in the Christ within us. By aligning our goals and desires with Jesus at the center, we discover that everything we truly need is already present. This alignment brings clarity, confidence, and a sense of purpose that transcends circumstances. [41:31]
• 5. Faithful presence—showing up consistently, serving wholeheartedly, and honoring our truest selves—is itself an act of worship. Even when outcomes are uncertain or plans change, our willingness to be present and to pour into the path before us reflects our trust in God’s goodness and timing. [47:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:33] - Grounding and Footwork
• [01:18] - Scripture Reflection: Life as a Mist
• [01:54] - Surrendering Control and Forward Fold
• [03:54] - Setting Goals and Identity in Christ
• [05:55] - Child’s Pose and Prayer for Peace
• [08:45] - Frog Pose and Embracing Vulnerability
• [10:41] - Journaling Prompts: What Do You Want to Improve?
• [12:50] - Planning Without Attachment
• [14:47] - Radical Acceptance and Letting Go
• [17:41] - Holistic Healing and Energy Flow
• [21:49] - Balancing Preparation and Surrender
• [29:49] - Living in the Middle: Consistency and Intention
• [34:44] - Perseverance and Doing Good
• [41:31] - Identity in Christ and Fulfillment
• [47:50] - Serving Faithfully and Affirmations
• [54:57] - Final Blessing and Questions for Reflection

Bible Reading

James 4:13-15 (ESV) — > Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Matthew 6:34 (ESV) — > Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) — > The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Observation Questions

1. According to James 4:13-15, what attitude does James warn against when making plans for the future?
2. In the sermon, what physical practice was used to help illustrate the idea of “letting go and letting God”? [[01:18]]
3. What does Matthew 6:34 say about worrying for tomorrow, and how was this verse applied in the sermon? [[14:07]]
4. What does Proverbs 16:9 teach about the relationship between our plans and God’s direction?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think James compares our lives to a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”? How does this image affect the way we view our plans and goals? [[01:18]]
2. The sermon talked about the “middle way” between over-preparing and last-minute chaos. What does it look like to live in that balance, and why is it important? [[21:49]]
3. How does practicing mindfulness (through breath, movement, or journaling) help us become more aware of our desires and areas of tension, both physically and spiritually? [[10:41]]
4. The sermon said, “Our identity is rooted not in our achievements or the fulfillment of our plans, but in the Christ within us.” What does it mean to have Jesus at the center of our intentions and plans? [[41:31]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon encouraged us to set goals and make plans, but to “hold them with open hands.” Is there a specific plan or desire in your life right now that you need to surrender more fully to God? What would it look like to do that this week? [[01:18]]
2. When you think about your own habits, do you tend to over-prepare and get anxious, or do you wait until the last minute and feel chaotic? What is one small step you could take to move toward a healthier balance? [[21:49]]
3. The practice of journaling was suggested as a way to clarify what you want, what you’re avoiding, and what holds you back. Take a moment to answer: What is one thing you want to improve in your life right now? What’s stopping you? [[10:41]]
4. The sermon said, “Faithful presence—showing up consistently, serving wholeheartedly, and honoring our truest selves—is itself an act of worship.” Where in your life do you feel called to simply “show up” and be present, even if you don’t know the outcome? [[47:50]]
5. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” When you make plans or set goals, how do you check if Jesus is truly at the heart of your intentions? Is there a plan you need to re-center on Christ this week? [[51:28]]
6. The sermon invited us to rest in the assurance that “even when we don’t understand, God’s plan is unfolding.” Can you share a time when you didn’t understand what God was doing, but later saw His wisdom? How can that experience help you trust Him now? [[56:12]]
7. The group was encouraged to continue in reflection, prayer, and mindful movement this week. What is one practical way you can create space for God to meet you in your vulnerability and guide you toward healing and wholeness? [[10:41]]