Finding Peace Through Trust and Surrender to God

 

Summary

In the early hours of a particularly dark period in my life, I found myself in desperate need of divine intervention. I needed a thought, a truth, something solid to anchor my mind amidst the chaos. It was then that I encountered a profound statement from Dallas Willard's book, "Renovation of the Heart." Willard defines peace as the rest of will that comes from a settled assurance about how things will turn out. This concept of peace, even in the midst of turmoil, was a revelation to me. It highlighted that peace is not the absence of chaos but an active engagement with good, coupled with the assurance that things will ultimately be well.

Willard further explains that true peace is not about controlling outcomes. Much like a bowler who releases the ball and then contorts their body in vain attempts to influence its path, we often strive to control what is beyond our reach. The secret to peace is letting go, trusting that God is in control. This requires a shift in how we live, moving from a state of constant worry to one of trust and surrender.

Worry, as I shared, is more contagious than any virus. It spreads rapidly, affecting not just our mental state but our physical well-being. The story of the centipede, paralyzed by overthinking, illustrates how worry can incapacitate us. This hyper-reflection, or overthinking, can lead to a state where we are unable to function effectively. Instead, we are called to reflect on our situations with God in mind, finding Him in the midst of our circumstances.

The key to this peace is being abandoned to God, as great apprentices of Jesus have known. When we surrender fully to God, we can rest in the assurance that all shall be well because He is in charge. I concluded with a poem by Sydney Lanier, encouraging us to let go of our burdens and be rooted in the greatness of God. In doing so, we find true peace and freedom.

Key Takeaways:

1. Peace is not the absence of chaos but an active engagement with good, coupled with the assurance that things will ultimately be well. This peace is available even in the midst of fear-inducing circumstances. [01:22]

2. True peace comes from releasing control over outcomes and trusting that God is in charge. Like a bowler who lets go of the ball, we must let go of our burdens and trust in God's sovereignty. [03:56]

3. Worry is deeply contagious and can paralyze us, much like the centipede in the poem. We are not made to worry, and doing so only exacerbates our problems. Instead, we should focus on God's presence in our lives. [06:31]

4. Hyper-reflection, or overthinking, can lead to a state where we are unable to function effectively. We must learn to reflect on our situations with God in mind, finding Him in the midst of our circumstances. [07:54]

5. The secret to peace is being abandoned to God, trusting that all shall be well because He is in charge. This surrender allows us to rest in the greatness of God and find true peace and freedom. [08:39]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - A Dark Time and a Need for Peace
[01:10] - Dallas Willard's Definition of Peace
[01:54] - Active Engagement with Good
[02:36] - The Illusion of Control
[03:35] - The Bowling Analogy
[04:12] - Levels of Peace
[05:09] - The Contagion of Worry
[06:19] - The Centipede's Dilemma
[07:14] - Hyper-Reflection and Its Effects
[08:07] - Finding God in Our Situations
[08:39] - Abandonment to God
[09:15] - Sydney Lanier's Poem
[10:08] - Be Rooted in God's Greatness

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Philippians 4:6-7 - "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 your minds in Christ Jesus."
2. Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus teaches about not worrying and trusting in God's provision.
3. Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Dallas Willard define as peace, and how does this differ from common perceptions of peace? [01:22]
2. How does the bowling analogy illustrate our attempts to control outcomes in our lives? [03:35]
3. What is the significance of the centipede's dilemma in understanding the effects of worry and overthinking? [06:31]
4. How does the poem by Sydney Lanier encourage us to find peace in God? [09:15]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of peace as "active engagement with good" challenge or affirm your understanding of peace? [01:54]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that worry is contagious, and how might this affect a community or family? [05:09]
3. How does the idea of being "abandoned to God" provide a pathway to peace, according to the sermon? [08:39]
4. What role does trust in God's sovereignty play in achieving true peace, as discussed in the sermon? [03:56]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a current situation in your life where you are trying to control the outcome. How can you practice letting go and trusting God this week? [03:56]
2. Identify a specific worry that has been affecting your mental or physical well-being. What steps can you take to focus on God's presence instead? [06:31]
3. Consider a time when your worry has affected those around you. How can you work towards being a source of peace rather than anxiety in your community? [05:09]
4. How can you actively engage with good in your daily life, even amidst chaos or fear-inducing circumstances? [01:22]
5. Think of a burden you are carrying. What practical steps can you take to surrender this burden to God and find rest in His greatness? [09:15]
6. How can you cultivate a mindset of trust and surrender in your relationship with God, especially during challenging times? [08:39]
7. Reflect on the poem by Sydney Lanier. What does it mean for you to "build a nest on the greatness of God," and how can you apply this imagery to your life? [09:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Peace Amidst Chaos
Peace is not the absence of chaos but an active engagement with good, coupled with the assurance that things will ultimately be well. This peace is available even in the midst of fear-inducing circumstances. True peace is not about the elimination of external turmoil but about finding a steadfast anchor within. It is the ability to engage with the good that exists even in the darkest times, trusting that ultimately, all will be well. This peace is a profound assurance that transcends understanding, allowing one to remain calm and centered despite the storms of life. [01:22]

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27, ESV)

Reflection: In what current situation can you actively seek out and engage with the good, trusting that peace is possible even amidst chaos?


Day 2: Letting Go of Control
True peace comes from releasing control over outcomes and trusting that God is in charge. Like a bowler who lets go of the ball, we must let go of our burdens and trust in God's sovereignty. The illusion of control often leads to anxiety and stress, as we attempt to manipulate circumstances beyond our reach. True peace is found in the surrender of this control, acknowledging that God is sovereign and His plans are perfect. By releasing our grip on the outcomes, we open ourselves to the peace that comes from trusting in His divine wisdom and timing. [03:56]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you are struggling to let go of control? How can you begin to trust God with this today?


Day 3: The Contagion of Worry
Worry is deeply contagious and can paralyze us, much like the centipede in the poem. We are not made to worry, and doing so only exacerbates our problems. Instead, we should focus on God's presence in our lives. Worry spreads like a virus, infecting our thoughts and actions, and often those around us. It can lead to paralysis, preventing us from moving forward in faith. By shifting our focus from our worries to God's presence, we can break free from this cycle and find peace in His promises and presence. [06:31]

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." (Proverbs 12:25, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a worry that has been weighing you down. How can you shift your focus to God's presence and promises today?


Day 4: Overcoming Hyper-Reflection
Hyper-reflection, or overthinking, can lead to a state where we are unable to function effectively. We must learn to reflect on our situations with God in mind, finding Him in the midst of our circumstances. Overthinking can trap us in a cycle of analysis paralysis, where we become so consumed with details that we lose sight of the bigger picture. By inviting God into our reflections, we can gain clarity and perspective, allowing us to move forward with confidence and peace. [07:54]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: When you find yourself overthinking, how can you intentionally invite God into your thought process to gain clarity and peace?


Day 5: Abandonment to God
The secret to peace is being abandoned to God, trusting that all shall be well because He is in charge. This surrender allows us to rest in the greatness of God and find true peace and freedom. Abandonment to God is not a passive resignation but an active trust in His goodness and sovereignty. It is the freedom that comes from knowing that we are held by a loving Creator who works all things for our good. In this surrender, we find the peace that surpasses all understanding, rooted in the greatness of God. [08:39]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: What does it mean for you to be fully abandoned to God today? How can this surrender bring you peace and freedom in your current circumstances?

Quotes


In the early hours of a particularly dark period in my life, I found myself in desperate need of divine intervention. I needed a thought, a truth, something solid to anchor my mind amidst the chaos. It was then that I encountered a profound statement from Dallas Willard's book, "Renovation of the Heart." Willard defines peace as the rest of will that comes from a settled assurance about how things will turn out. [00:00:28]

Peace actually is available even in the middle of circumstances that are the opposite of peace that are chaos and fear inducing. Dallas goes on to write here on page 134, peace is always a form of active engagement with good plus assurance that things will turn out well. You know this throws his back on God because nobody else can do that. [00:01:04]

I am no longer striving inwardly or outwardly to save some outcome dear to me, or to avoid one that I reject. I'm no longer striving around outcomes. I have released whatever is at issue and am no longer even putting body English or spin on it or inwardly gritting my teeth. [00:02:00]

I will often think about people bowling in this regard. If you ever watch somebody bowling, they release the ball and then it's the most interesting thing. The ball is out of their hand so there's nothing they can do. You don't have a remote control switch or anything, but they're still contorting their body and leaning to the left or leaning to the right. [00:03:27]

We were not meant to live carrying the burdens of outcomes. This gets deeply to peace. Of course everyone is at peace about some things, Dallas writes. One hopes everyone's at peace about some things, but few have peace in general, and fewer still have peace that reaches their body and its automatic responses to such a depth that it does not live in a covert state of alarm. [00:04:41]

Most people carry heavy burdens of care, usually about things that are important in life. What will happen to their loved ones, their finances, health, death, their physical appearance, what others think of them, the future of society. And of course, worry is deeply contagious, more contagious than COVID is. [00:05:02]

We are then assured of the outcome of our life, and no longer trying to justify ourselves before God or others. We have accepted that we are not righteous or even totally competent, and that we cannot be so on our own. We celebrate personal inadequacy. We were not made to worry, and worry actually simply increases all of our problems. [00:05:48]

The centipede was quite serene until a toad in fun said pray which leg moves after which, which threw her doubts in such a pitch she felt exhausted in a ditch, not knowing how to run. That's actually a condition that's called Humphrey's law. Humphrey was the guy that wrote about this initially, which is that once a behavior has become automatic once it's become habitual then when I think about it my performance actually gets worse. [00:06:29]

Sometimes our problem is not that we don't think it's that we can't stop thinking, and ultimately ultimately either I will reflect on my situation as it exists apart from God, what will happen to me what will happen to our world, and then you want to think about are there forces in your life that are prompting you to even more hyper reflection. [00:07:52]

The secret to this piece Dallas writes is as great apprentices of Jesus have known, being abandoned to God. The person who has heartily abandoned to God knows that all shall be well because God is in charge of his or her life. My peace is the greatness of God. [00:08:39]

So take a moment take a deep breath, let go of all your burdens all the outcomes all the concerns, let the greatness of God become present to your mind right now, as the marsh hen secretly builds on the watery sod, behold, I will build me a nest on the greatness of God. [00:09:09]

I will fly in the greatness of God, as the marsh hen flies in the freedom that fills all the space tweaks the marsh and the skies, by so many roots as the marsh grass sends in the sod, I will heartily lay me a hold on the greatness of God, be rooted, have peace, guard your heart. [00:09:42]

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Transcript
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