Digging Deeper: Decision vs. Surrender

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between making a decision and surrendering? If NorthStar had chosen to do 30 Days of Decisions, it would have quite a different ring to it, wouldn’t it?

One of the clearest places this question reaches the heart is in addiction, because addictive substances and behaviors are often very difficult to simply decide not to pursue. The troubling reality is that a decision made now can be undone later. In fact, you can make ninety-nine correct decisions to turn away from addiction, but as long as the hundredth decision moves toward it, you find yourself right back in the trap.

How exhausting.

The primary mover in a decision seems to be myself. In surrender, it seems to be an outside force. Think of surrender on a battlefield. It is really one decisive act, not one hundred separate decisions.

You could argue that there are degrees of surrender. Perhaps it is helpful to surrender certain aspects of my will daily, especially the parts I know will benefit both myself and others. But on the other hand, I have found what could be called complete surrender to be the most freeing.

I do not have complete surrender in every area of my life. There are many areas where I wish I did. But in the few places where I truly have surrendered, it is marvelous.

I surrendered intimacy with any other woman when I got married. I do not wake up each day wondering, Should I stay with my wife? Should I leave her? For me, that was a one-time surrender.

I surrendered my life to Christ on Easter 2008 during Mike’s prayer at the end of the service. I do not question each morning whether I am going to follow the Lord. I am simply His.

That is why I say surrender is marvelous, though I fully admit it can also be frustrating. Decisions can feel like flipping light switches in your house. Complete surrender is more like jumping off a cliff into water. It is the irreversible nature of the act that makes surrender difficult to replicate.

In twelve-step programs, I would argue that the functionally greatest step is the third one, which says:

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Notice, it says made a decision, not made many decisions.

Similarly, Jesus used a simple phrase to invite people into surrender:

“Follow me.”

And Luke tells us that Levi left everything and followed Jesus.

Complete surrender.

Ask yourself:

HEART: Am I exhausted by repeated decisions in that one stubborn area where I just cannot seem to break through? Have I made ninety-nine right decisions only to stumble on the hundredth? Could that one area be calling me to do what Levi did and leave everything to follow Jesus?

SOUL: Am I willing to choose complete surrender instead of endlessly flipping light switches? Am I willing to make the jump?

STRENGTH: While complete surrender is a one-time act, the walk still continues. Wives still appreciate flowers. Jesus still delights in your prayers. Addictions require rebuilding what counterfeit comforts once stole. Am I willing to keep putting one foot in front of the other and continue walking from this place of surrender?

May you go in peace today, surrendered to what is good.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20 ESV