Surrendering vs. Resisting
Imagine you’re floating down a stream in an inner tube, your feet up and your bottom sticking out below. This stream represents life, and its steady current is God’s grace, drawing you closer to Him. The destination? A place of joy, purpose, and eternal life in His presence.
You don’t have to create the flow—the stream is already moving. But this isn’t just a lazy float where you do nothing. There are rocks, sandbars, and obstacles along the way, and God is calling out directions to help you navigate safely.
Surrendering vs. Resisting the Flow
You have choices in how you respond to the current. The difference between surrendering and resisting determines how smooth or painful the journey will be.
Resisting: Fighting Against God’s Lead
If you ignore God’s directions, you might scrape your bottom on a rock—painful consequences from bad choices.
If you drag your bottom along a sandbar, you slow down or stop completely—spiritually stuck because you didn’t follow His leading.
If you flail your arms and paddle against the current, you actively resist His pull, trying to go your own way instead of trusting His plan.
If you cling to branches and rocks along the shore because you fear the unknown or are too comfortable where you are, you resist moving forward at all. You resist Jesus.
Surrendering: Trusting God’s Lead
If you listen and respond, you can steer smoothly through the journey.
If you lift your bottom when God warns of a sandbar, you avoid getting stuck in spiritual stagnation.
If you hold steady in the rapids, you trust that God will carry you through trials rather than trying to escape them.
When you let go of what’s holding you back, you experience the joy and adventure of the ride.
How We Move Forward
The best way to navigate the stream of life is to trust the current and listen to God’s guidance:
“Paddle left!” (God warning you of unseen danger—rocks or logs below the water.)
“Lift your bottom—there’s a sandbar ahead!” (God directing you so that you avoid spiritual stagnation.)
“Hold steady, the rapids will carry you through! I will help you!” (God giving you strength through trials.)
When you stop resisting and start trusting, you ride as smoothly as possible down the stream, carried by His grace. You may still hit bumps along the way, but if you follow His voice, you’ll reach your destination without unnecessary pain.
The Key to Reaching the Destination
God provides the stream, the current, and the guidance—but He won’t force you downstream. You must choose to trust Him, let go of things holding you back, and lift your bottom when told to, following His directions instead of stubbornly going your own way.
When you stop resisting and let God lead, you won’t just avoid the pain of scraped bottoms and sandbars—you’ll experience the joy and adventure of the ride.
Relevant Bible Verses:
1. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
(When we trust Him, He guides us safely through life’s obstacles.)
2. Isaiah 30:21 – “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
(God constantly speaks to us, giving direction when we need it—LISTEN!)
3. Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
(Just like the stream carries you, salvation is not about your effort—it is God’s gift when you trust Him and surrender.)
