At Your Service- Week 3
The Power of Surrender: Finding Faith Through Letting Go
Life often presents moments where we must let go of our deepest dreams and aspirations. While surrender might feel like failure, it can actually be one of the greatest acts of faith we can demonstrate.
What Does True Surrender Look Like?
The story of Moses begins not with the parting of the Red Sea, but with an act of surrender. His mother, Jochebed (meaning “the Lord is my glory”), faced an impossible choice when Pharaoh decreed all Hebrew baby boys should be killed.
How Do We Handle Situations Beyond Our Control?
After hiding Moses for three months, Jochebed reached a point where she could no longer protect him. Instead of giving up completely, she placed him in a basket (tevah) on the Nile River – an act that seemed like surrender but was actually profound faith in action.
Why is the Word “Tevah” Significant?
The Hebrew word “tevah” appears only twice in the Old Testament:
- First in Noah’s ark story
- Second in Moses’ basket story
In both instances, tevah represents not just a vessel, but a means of salvation. It had no rudder or sail – symbolizing complete trust in God’s direction rather than human control.
How Does Surrender Lead to Greater Purpose?
Jochebed’s act of surrender led to:
- Moses being found by Pharaoh’s daughter
- The eventual freedom of the Israelites
- The establishment of God’s law
- The lineage leading to the Messiah
What Can We Learn from Historical Examples?
Like Harriet Tubman, who was later called “Moses” for leading her people to freedom, sometimes our greatest impact comes through surrender and trust. Tubman’s famous words, “I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger,” came from her complete trust in God’s guidance.
Life Application
This week, consider:
- What are you trying to control that needs to be surrendered to God?
- How might your act of surrender impact future generations?
- In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than God’s protection?
Challenge yourself to identify one area where you need to practice surrender this week. Remember that letting go doesn’t mean giving up – it means trusting God with the outcome. Your act of surrender today, like Jochebed’s, might have impacts that reach far beyond what you can see.
Ask yourself: “What would change in my life if I truly believed that God could do more with my surrender than I could do with my control?”