Submitting and Surrendering…And To Whom?
Rev. Erik Swanson
October 12, 2025
You can watch the entire sermon here.
Some months ago during our service, a conversation in the feedback time deeply caught my attention. One person said they heard a message about surrendering or submitting, while another had a very strong negative reaction to that same idea. That exchange stayed with me, because it revealed how charged and important the idea of surrender is for many of us. I decided it was something I needed to revisit — and lately, as I’ve become more involved in resistance and social justice work, I’ve been thinking about it even more.
Surrendering – Participating In God’s Good Work
When I do this work — standing up to injustice, exclusion, and cruelty — I see myself as resisting the forces that push people down. I believe that’s something God calls us to do. But at the same time, I’ve realized that this resistance work is also an act of surrender — of participating in God’s good work rather than trying to control everything myself. It can be stressful. I sometimes feel afraid to put myself out there, worried about how I’ll be perceived, or about the risks involved. My ego wants to protect itself, to play it safe, to be “a good little pastor.” But I have to keep asking: is this what God wants me to do? And when I sense that it is, I have to surrender my fear and ego to God’s will.
Surrender Is Not Submission
Surrender and submission are powerful spiritual practices, though they have often been twisted for harmful purposes. History is full of examples where the powerful have demanded submission from those they oppress. And many of us were raised with images of a dominating God who demanded obedience. But that’s not the God Jesus revealed. Jesus knew a God of love, compassion, and justice — a God who sides with the oppressed and longs for our flourishing. When Jesus prayed, “Not my will but yours be done,” he modeled true surrender: not defeat or passivity, but a courageous entrusting of himself to divine love and wisdom.
Letting Go
Spiritual surrender is not about giving up — it’s about letting go. It’s about releasing our need to control outcomes or insist on our own way, and instead trusting God’s wisdom. In a world that glorifies independence and self-sufficiency, surrender can feel unnatural. Yet Scripture and experience show that true freedom and peace come when we yield our hearts to God. Pride and self-reliance often leave us anxious and restless; surrender frees us to be led by God into places we could never reach on our own.
A Picture Of Spiritual Surrender
Today’s gospel story captures this beautifully. Ten men were healed by Jesus, but only one turned back to give thanks. His act of turning back — of surrendering his rush toward his new life to first honor the One who healed him — is a picture of spiritual surrender. He made it about gratitude, not self.
Surrendering Requires Discernment
This kind of surrender requires discernment. We should always ask: to whom or to what am I submitting? Does this lead me toward greater wholeness and alignment with God’s Spirit? The prophet Habakkuk wrestled with this too, waiting for God’s vision in the midst of suffering. Surrendering our egos and impatience allows us to trust that larger vision, even when we can’t yet see it.
Deeper Intimacy With God
Surrender opens us to deeper intimacy with God. It softens our defenses and builds trust. Many of us have built strong shields for protection — and for good reason — but those same shields can also keep God at a distance. Learning to surrender, carefully and discerningly, helps us let God in.
Noticing Moments To Surrender
So this week, I’m challenging myself — and you — to notice moments to surrender in prayer. What fears or shields get in the way? What small ego needs are you being called to release? Where is God gently inviting you to let go and go deeper? May we all discern well as we learn to surrender to the One who loves us beyond measure. Amen.