It's All About the Attitude

Submit vs. Surrender

Aren't these the same thing? Why would they be different? In the context of our relationship with God, don't they both mean letting go?

Brennan Manning, in The Importance of Being Foolish, put it this way: "But there is an essential difference between submission and surrender. The former is the conscious acceptance of reality. There is a superficial yielding, but tension continues...It is half hearted acceptance. It is described by words such as resignation, compliance,acknowledgement, concession. There remains a feeling of reservation, a tug in the direction of non-acceptance. Surrender, on the other hand, is the moment when my forces of resistance cease to function, when I cannot help but respond to the call of the Spirit.
The ability to surrender is a gift of God. However eagerly we may desire it, however diligently we may strive to acquire it, surrender cannot be attained by personal endeavor."

Definitions:

sub·mit [suhb-mit] verb, -mit·ted, -mit·ting.
verb (used with object)
1. to give over or yield to the power or authority of another(often used reflexively).
2. to subject to some kind of treatment or influence.
3. to present for the approval, consideration, or decision ofanother or others: to submit a plan; to submit an application.
4. to state or urge with deference; suggest or propose (usually followed by a clause): I submit that full proof should be required.
verb (used without object)
5. to yield oneself to the power or authority of another: to submit to a conqueror.
6. to allow oneself to be subjected to some kind of treatment:to submit to chemotherapy.
7. to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc.: I submit to your superior judgment.

sur·ren·der [suh-ren-der]
verb (used with object)
1. to yield (something) to the possession or power of another;deliver up possession of on demand or under duress: to surrender the fort to the enemy; to surrender the stolen goods to the police.
2. to give (oneself) up, as to the police.
3. to give (oneself) up to some influence, course, emotion, etc.: He surrendered himself to a life of hardship.
4. to give up, abandon, or relinquish (comfort, hope, etc.).
5. to yield or resign (an office, privilege, etc.) in favor of another.


The phrase "Let go, let God" is one that I have been struggling with for a long time. In our society, letting go of all the control and allowing God to direct our lives is nearly unheard of. Even in Christian circles, it is viewed as a highly suggested ideal. As Americans, we live in such a self-help society that we find ourselves idealizing x-step programs. I'm not suggesting that these programs are not beneficial, but when it comes to a relationship with God, do we really need another self help book or do we need the Bible?

I decided to go in search of a step program to teach me to let God have control. By doing this, I realized that I was putting fine print on what God was getting. I was selling both myself and God short. With a step program, you can stop and spend as much time working that step as you need. But when it comes to the issue of letting God have control over your life, there is no time like the present.

There are many step programs to guide you to surrender, but if you really think about it, there only needs to be three steps.
1. Accept Jesus as your Saviour.
2. Willingly surrender your life to God.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 daily.

We should stop submitting (letting go due to obligation) and all join together and support each other daily in this new gift from God: surrender (letting go due to a greater desire for God in your life.)