SURRENDER

By the Catholic Truth Society

What are you refusing to give God? That might be an uncomfortable question to answer, and you may try to tell yourself that there is nothing that God could ask that you wouldn’t be prepared to give.

However, if we’re honest with ourselves, there will undoubtedly be many things we hold back. We all have attachments we struggle to let go of, and we would prefer that God look at our “great achievements” rather than ask us to give our hearts fully to Him. Perhaps we are so afraid of giving God everything that we even convince ourselves that, if God is good, He wouldn’t ask us to give up whatever it is we’re clinging to.

The uncomfortable truth this question reveals is that we still hesitate to trust God completely. If we refuse to surrender certain desires, fears, gifts, material possessions, situations, or even people to God, it is because we fear what He might do with them. That means there is still doubt in our minds about God’s goodness, and perhaps we judge His goodness by what we deem good, rather than accepting God’s better judgement.

This weekend, spend time praying over what you’re withholding from God. Don’t fear the truth: you can’t surprise God with it; He already knows it. He also does not condemn you for it, so long as, when confronted with your weakness, you desire to let Him make you strong. For that is the beautiful truth we so easily forget: we do not have to surrender our attachments by our own strength; God will do the heavy lifting.

So don’t be afraid. Give God your heart and hold nothing back. If that feels too difficult, simply say, “Lord, I want to give you my heart, withholding nothing, but I can’t. Please help me!” Our merciful Father will never let such a prayer go unanswered.

“God does not require great achievements, but a heart that holds back nothing for self.”

(St Rose Philippine Duchesne)