Surrender and Trust: Learning to Let Go and Let God
Matthew 26:39 (NLT) – “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
Introduction
Brothers and sisters, today we’re going to talk about two things that can radically change our walk with God: surrender and trust. These two ideas go hand in hand, and they are crucial to living out a faith that’s vibrant, powerful, and real.
We will start with one of the most powerful moments in Scripture, found in Matthew 26:39, where Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, prays the ultimate prayer of surrender: “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Then, we’ll explore how this principle of surrender is connected to trust as Peter instructs us in 1 Peter 5:7 to “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
In a world that teaches us to cling to control, today, we’re going to learn what it means to let go, to surrender our will to God's, and to trust Him fully with all our cares and worries. Let’s unpack this message together and explore how, by surrendering to God, we find true peace and freedom.
1. Jesus as Our Model of Surrender – Matthew 26:39
Let’s begin with Matthew 26:39: “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”
This is one of the most intimate and heart-wrenching moments in the Gospels. Jesus, knowing the agony that awaits Him on the cross, asks the Father if there’s another way. But even in His moment of deepest distress, He says, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
The Greek word for “will” here is ????µa (thelema), which means a desire, wish, or determined plan. Jesus is fully human in this moment, expressing His natural desire to avoid suffering, but He also fully submits to the divine plan.
What does this teach us? Surrender is not the absence of emotion or desire; it’s the alignment of our will with God's will. Jesus shows us that it’s okay to ask God for a different outcome, but ultimately, we need to yield to His plan.
In the Old Testament, we find a similar theme in Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT), which tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” The Hebrew word for “trust” here is ?????? (batach), meaning to have confidence in or to rely on. We are called to trust God’s wisdom over our own understanding.
Church, what are you holding onto that you need to surrender to God? Is it a relationship, a job, or perhaps a dream you have? Surrender doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care about our desires. It means we trust His plan more than our own. Jesus surrendered His will for the Father’s plan of redemption—He trusted God’s greater purpose.
Imagine a child holding tightly to a toy that’s broken. The parent wants to take it to fix it, but the child is too afraid to let it go. Isn’t that how we often behave with God? We hold onto things that are broken, fearful of letting go, but God is saying, “Trust Me, I can make it better.”
Pastor Tim Keller says, “To ‘let go and let God’ means to stop trying to control the outcome of your life and to start trusting God with all your heart, with no backup plan.”
2. Casting Our Cares – 1 Peter 5:7
Now let’s turn to 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT): “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” In this verse, Peter gives us the next step after surrender: trust.
The Greek word for “cares” in this passage is µ???µ?a (merimna), which refers to anxieties, distractions, or the things that divide our attention. Peter is telling us to take all those things that weigh us down and hand them over to God.
Notice that Peter doesn’t say to give God only the “big” worries or the “spiritual” concerns. He says, “Give all your worries.” The little things, the daily struggles, and the major life challenges—God wants all of them. Why? Because He cares for us.
The word “cares” in Greek is µ??e? (melei), which means to be concerned about or to take an interest in. God is not indifferent to our worries; He is deeply invested in our well-being.
Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT), “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’” The burden Jesus invites us to give Him is not just the physical one but the emotional and spiritual weight we carry.
Church, what anxieties are you carrying today? What burdens have been weighing you down? Peter is reminding us that we don’t have to carry those things alone. God is not only willing but eager to take them from us. The key is trust—trust that He will handle our concerns, that He has our best interest at heart, and that He cares about even the smallest details of our lives.
Picture a hiker carrying a heavy backpack. At first, the weight seems manageable, but as the journey goes on, the load becomes unbearable. Suddenly, a guide offers to carry the pack for him. All the hiker has to do is let go. That’s what Jesus is offering us—freedom from the burdens that weigh us down.
Max Lucado writes, “No one can pray and worry at the same time. When we worry, we aren’t trusting. When we pray, we are letting God take over.” Let’s learn to pray and trust, not worry.
3. Surrender Opens the Door to God’s Peace
When we combine surrender and trust, we experience something profound: peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
The peace that Paul speaks of here isn’t just a momentary feeling. The Greek word for “peace” is e????? (eirene), which refers to wholeness, safety, and harmony. It’s a state of being that goes beyond our circumstances. This peace comes when we surrender our will to God’s and trust Him with our cares.
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” The Hebrew word for “peace” here is ??????? (shalom), which means completeness or soundness. True peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God in the midst of it.
When we choose to surrender our will and cast our cares on God, we open ourselves to His peace. This peace is not dependent on the absence of conflict or the resolution of every issue—it’s the quiet assurance that God is in control. Even in the midst of trials, we can rest in His peace.
Think of the eye of a hurricane. While the storm rages all around, there is a calm in the centre. That’s what God’s peace is like. The storm of life may swirl, but when we trust and surrender to God, we can stand in the eye of the storm—calm and at peace.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “When your will is God’s will, you will have your will.” When we align our will with God’s and trust Him fully, we find the peace we seek.
4. Surrender Brings Transformation
When we surrender our will to God and trust Him with our worries, something incredible happens: transformation.
Romans 12:2 (NLT) tells us, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
The Greek word for “transform” here is µetaµ??f?? (metamorphoo), from which we get the word metamorphosis. This is not just a superficial change; it’s a radical, inward transformation that God brings about in us when we surrender to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” When we surrender to God, He takes our old, broken selves and makes us new.
Church, are you ready for transformation? It begins with surrender. When we let go of our desires, our fears, and our anxieties, God can work in us in ways we never imagined. He wants to transform your heart, your mind, and your life.
A caterpillar may seem to lead a limited life, crawling on the ground, but when it surrenders to the process of transformation, it becomes a butterfly—free to soar. Likewise, when we surrender to God’s will, we are transformed into something greater than we could ever be on our own.
A.W. Tozer said, “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves.” The more we surrender, the more we allow God to work in and through us.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Surrender and trust are the keys to unlocking God’s peace and experiencing His transformative power in our lives. Jesus modelled surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Peter reminds us to cast all our worries on God because He cares for us. As we surrender and trust, God gives us peace, and that peace leads to transformation.
So today, what is God asking you to surrender? What worries and cares do you need to give to Him? Take a moment to reflect, and then take that step of faith. Let go of your will and trust God’s plan.
Invitation to Faith in Jesus
If you’ve never taken the step of surrendering your life to Jesus, now is the time. He loves you, He cares for you, and He has a plan for your life. If you’re ready to make that decision, pray this simple prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to You. I trust You with my past, my present, and my future. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. Be my Lord and Saviour. Amen.”
