How Surrender Leads to True Peace and Growth

Have you thought about how surrender leads to true peace and growth?

My focus words for 2026 are surrender and shalom (God’s peace). When I chose these two words, it was clear that they are interlinked and there is a powerful connection between them. Let’s explore this together.

If you are not familiar with the practice of choosing a focus word, theme, or verse for the year, I have found this practice very helpful. It is simply choosing, after prayer and reflection, one or two overarching focus words or themes for the new year, coupled usually with a key verse or verses. I found this more efficient than setting New Year’s resolutions. The focus words help me stay grounded throughout the year and remind me of my priorities.

What Is Surrender in Our Christian Life?

Let’s start with the meaning of surrender in our Christian life. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, surrender means “to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand”, “to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another”, “to give (oneself) up into the power of another”, “to give (oneself) over to something (such as an influence)”. We see that surrender is about yielding and giving up.

In our walk with God, surrender is grounded in trust. We can surrender ourselves to Him, to His authority and control, because we trust Him and because we love Him. We can surrender our lives, possessions, desires, rights, circumstances, problems, pains, and suffering. Surrender is giving everything to Him, not only the things that burden us, but the good things, too.

Surrender is giving everything to God, not only the things that burden us, but the good things, too. #surrender #trustGod #faith Share on X

Remember to pin me for later!

Radical Surrender Equals Radical Trust

Radical surrender equals radical trust. We trust the Lord to lead us as He led the Israelites with a cloud by day and fire by night. When He stops, we stop, too. When He moves, we follow.

So, surrender means following without having enough information and overcoming our fear. We follow the Lord into new, unknown territories, places we’ve never been before. We follow Him to green pastures and still waters, but we also follow Him without hesitation in the valleys of the shadow of death.

Surrendering is a way to a deeper union with Him by releasing control, letting go, stopping striving, and resting in Him.

Surrender is the Key to Spiritual Growth and Fruitfulness

Surrender means to desire God’s will more than ours, and the Holy Spirit is the One who empowers us to fully surrender and yield.

We have a beautiful picture of surrendering and yielding in John chapter 15, where Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and the believers as the vine branches.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)

In Romans chapter 12, the Lord urges us to surrender our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God”, and to serve in the body of Christ and put His love in action. Surrendering our bodies, our gifts, and our ministries is the way we live as Christ’s disciples.

Surrender is the key to spiritual growth because the biggest growth comes not through striving but through surrender.

The biggest spiritual growth comes not through striving but through surrender.  #surrender #spiritualgrowth #trustGod Share on X

How Surrender Leads to True Peace

When we let our hands drop, stop grasping for control, and let go, one immediate result of our surrender is experiencing shalom (God’s peace).

Shalom is true peace, and the Hebrew word carries the meaning of wholeness, completeness, well-being, and prosperity. It is much more than just peace of mind and peace of heart, calmness, or tranquility. That’s why in one of His most comforting statements, Jesus speaks about His peace:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)

Surrendering to the Lord Who Is Peace

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and Our Lord of Peace. However, this is not the first time God has referred to Himself with the word “Shalom”. We find the first name of God, Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is Peace, or God’s Peace) in Judges chapter 6, in the account about Gideon and his meeting with the angel of the Lord.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lordis with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12, NIV)

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”  But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day, it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:22-24, NIV)

The Lord comes to us with peace. Through Christ’s sacrifice, He has made it possible for us to be united with Him and in His presence without facing penalty and death. God comes to us as the Lord of Peace and with a twofold encouragement: “Peace! Don’t be afraid! The Lord is with you!”

The more we surrender and yield to the Lord and follow His leading, the deeper the union and connection with Him becomes, and the more we experience His shalom. He is the Peace, and He gives His peace to those who yield to Him and obey His commands.

With every step of surrender we make, God is working towards wholeness and fruitfulness. He gives us a life made peaceful and secure, not through success and favorable circumstances but by His steady presence.

Surrendering to God in Our Pain and Suffering

Do you need help to surrender to God in your pain and suffering? Then my book,“Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings,” is for you. Let me take you on a journey through 13 painful experiences, showing the losses and the precious blessings in each of them, and a way to heal and grow.

More Encouragement for You

If you need more resources, encouragement, and help on how to move forward with God, I highly recommend these books. Check them out.

Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk

The Night Is Normal by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole

Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert

Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst

Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley

Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge

All Things New by John Eldredge

Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer

Lean into Grace by Stacey Pardoe

This page contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission I make from these items will help keep this blog going. Thank you!

Your Turn

Can you recall situations where surrendering and letting go of control have led to peace? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!

Do you want to watch this post as a vlog? Click HERE. If you found it helpful, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks!

I send my newsletter “Keep the Faith” every two weeks. I share with you first the newest blog post, recommended books and articles, and the newest freebies and resources to keep the faith.