The Selfish Girl’s Guide to Servanthood #4 – Jordan Christy
#4 The ΓÇÿSΓÇÖ Word
I really hate the ΓÇÿsΓÇÖ word.
Which word am I talking about?
IΓÇÖll give you a hint: ItΓÇÖs not servanthood. Or sacrifice.
No, no, itΓÇÖs far worse than both of those.
ItΓÇÖs SURRENDER.
When I was 21, I felt like I was supposed to give up the dream IΓÇÖd had since I was 14 of being a songwriter. I was hurt and disappointed and downright mad at God about the whole ordeal. But, I didnΓÇÖt want anyone else to know that (and I certainly didnΓÇÖt want God to know), so when people would ask me why IΓÇÖd stopped playing music, IΓÇÖd simply say, ΓÇ£Eh, IΓÇÖm kinda over it,ΓÇ¥ or ΓÇ£IΓÇÖm just too busy to play.ΓÇ¥ In reality, I was so sad I couldnΓÇÖt even go near a piano without bursting into tears.
Surrender is a particularly gruesome act for those of us who are slightly self-absorbed. Why? Because we tend to want the best for ourselves and have our best interest in mind (how thoughtful of us!).
The problem is, we generally have no idea whatΓÇÖs actually best for us. To complicate matters, the outcome of surrender usually looks the exact opposite of what we want.
Well, after a decade of carefully avoiding keyboards and being secretly angry at God (donΓÇÖt get me wrong, we went on about our normal relationship, I just carefully avoided that topic of conversation), I began to wonder if IΓÇÖd really surrendered the whole music thing at all?
No, I had simply quit. Quitting and surrendering are two different things. Surrendering puts things back in GodΓÇÖs hands and says, ΓÇ£IΓÇÖm done doing this my way. You can have this thing, I trust You.ΓÇ¥ Quitting simply throws in the towel and stomps off the court, pouting over a loss where you seemingly come out the loser (IΓÇÖll give you two guesses which one I did).
The fact is, there is no such thing as selfish surrender. ThereΓÇÖs either un-selfish surrender or no surrender at all. ThereΓÇÖs no in between.
ΓÇ£I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇô Job 42:2
If you’re feeling the noose of surrender tightening, feel free to pray this prayer…
Dear Lord, please forgive me for clinging to my own ways and desires. Help me to give up my will, in exchange for your perfect one. Heal my heart of any unspoken pain, loss, or disappointment. In JesusΓÇÖ name, Amen.
