It makes sense that when there is a void in my, (or your life) that we try to fill that void with something. As human beings, that is just how we do life. It is usually us making the determination of how to fill the void. We instinctively know that there is a void so we seek to fill it, or numb it. But how often do we ask God to identify the void, and fill it with something that He wants it filled with? Too often we do not do the soul searching we need to do. We don’t enter into that intangible realm to fill our tangible need.

Why do you think our tendency is to fill the void with something we can see, touch or grasp? I think it centers around two things; we don’t know how to fill the tangible with intangible, or it seems too difficult a task to undertake. Both of those points are valid. There is not a checklist from point A to point S in getting to a place of surrender. And surrender IS difficult! In our fast paced, microwave, instant everything world we are being trained to want what we want fast and easy. That is not the way our God works. He does not, and will not deal with us in a frantic, frenzied way. We can’t control God like we control everything else. The total orientation of our western society is to control and “take care of it ourselves”, because after all, we are very capable people! Why would we need to let God take us somewhere we ourselves could take ourselves? But that is the point; we can’t take ourselves to that place of surrender – only God can – but we must cooperate with Him.

When we think of surrender we usually think in terms of what we are going to have to “give up” to God. There will be things that we will have to give up, and give over to God to be sure, but what we don’t often realize is that we are not the only one giving – God is committed to “giving” to us as well in the process of surrender. God is truly not interested in you giving up your personality (which He gave you), or your gifts, abilities, or talents (which He gave you). Rather, He wants to transform you, and in that transformation there are things you will get from God. Surrender is not about “getting” something more from God, but the reality is that there is something more of God to be gotten! However, you don’t surrender so that you will receive. You surrender out of a place of humility, and obedience.