What Surrender Really Looks Like (And Why It Changed Everything)
There was a time when I thought surrender meant giving up.
Letting go of control. Losing ground.
Honestly? It sounded more like defeat than freedom.
But I’ve learned that true surrender doesn’t mean giving up—it means opening up. It means making space for God to move in ways I never could on my own.
It’s one thing to sing “I surrender all” on a Sunday morning. It’s another thing entirely to walk through a Tuesday afternoon holding a crying toddler, a pile of unfolded laundry, and a weary heart—and still choose to submit it all to the Lord.
That’s real surrender.
And that’s where everything began to change for me.
Before Surrender:
I was anxious, overwhelmed, and reactive.
I was trying to hold everything together, and in the process, I was falling apart.
I also believed I needed to be strong on my own.
I thought I shouldn’t “bother God” with things I felt I should be able to handle myself—
hello, pride and insecurity.
But the more I tried to manage things without Him, the more exhausted, bitter, and spiritually dry I became.
I thought God would be pleased with me if I just performed well enough.
Instead, He was waiting for me to release the very things I was trying to carry alone.
After Surrender:
I’m still growing. Still learning. Still walking through hard days.
But now I’m anchored.
Now I’m present.
Now I’m led by the Spirit instead of driven by pressure.
That transformation didn’t happen overnight.
But it started when I finally got still, got honest with God, and let Him lead.
What We Think Surrender Looks Like vs. What It Actually Looks Like:
It’s easy to picture surrender as raising our hands during a moving worship set on
Sunday—
emotional, beautiful, and full of peace.
But in real life?
Surrender looks more like spiritual surgery than a spiritual selfie.
It looks like breaking old habits.
Choosing obedience when it’s uncomfortable.
Pausing to pray instead of panicking.
Saying no when your flesh wants yes.
And learning to live by faith… even when it doesn’t feel easy.
It’s not always pretty.
But it’s always powerful.
The Tool That Helped Me Stay Grounded
One of the most helpful tools in my season of surrender was something I created out of necessity:
✨ The Rooted in Grace Journal.
I didn’t want a journal that just told me what to think or gave me another task to check off.
I needed something that would help me slow down, reflect deeply, and draw near to God’s presence—even in the middle of motherhood chaos.
More than a journal—it's a journey rooted in grace and truth.
Inside the Rooted in Grace Journal, you’ll find:
Scripture-based prompts that help you process what God is showing you in this season
Sections on identity in Christ, God’s promises and purpose, and grace over guilt
Space to reflect, pray, and be still—even if you only have a few minutes a day
A guided rhythm that meets you where you are, with no pressure to “catch up” or be perfect
This journal became my space to process what the Holy Spirit was teaching me… to release old patterns… to hear God again in the noise.
And most importantly?
It became the place where I started to believe that surrender doesn’t take something from me—it actually gives me peace, clarity, and purpose.
If You’re Feeling That Tug to Surrender...
If your soul has been craving a reset…
If you’ve been overwhelmed and feel like you’ve been doing it all in your own strength…
If you’re tired of striving and want to reconnect with God in a deeper way…
This is your nudge.
Start small.
Get still.
Let go.
And let Him in.
The Rooted in Grace Journal is here to help you do just that.
👉Click here to learn more or order your copy
Let’s be mamas who choose surrender—because when we let go, we finally make room
for God to move.
