The Joy of Full Surrender

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" I John 4:18

"There is no spiritual path more secure than that of giving yourself entirely to God." Jeanne-Pierre de Caussade

I am writing to recommend the book I am reading because for me, at this time, it is perhaps the best book I could imagine to address the issues of my heart. It speaks directly to the issue of Faith in the midst of both great trials as well as everyday struggles of duty just before us. So for a stay-at-home mom who has been surrounded by daily mom and wifely chores as well as a series of painful trials, it sure is speaking.   It is called “The Joy of Full Surrender” by Jean-Pierre de Caussade.  And was published by Paraclete Press.

It is about finding God’s will for our lives each and every day and about restoring the joy in our walks with Jesus. 

While on spiritual retreat this weekend on Cape Cod with Scott, God revealed a great many painful things to my soul. Things which, out of fear,  I had allowed to take root and begin to harm my heart and even those whom I love.   I arrived on the Cape in a general state of fear and control.  One of the results of what God’s will had allowed in my life over this last year was a sense of dread about what might come next.  I stopped meeting my days with joy, faith and peace and began meeting them with fear, dread and even depression.  Anyhow, very long story short.....I was able to actively surrender my self-will (which included my fear and sense of control over my life and all its circumstances) unto the will of a loving God whom I am once again learning to trust, but in a whole new way.  My joy has begun to return and I am no longer so afraid of the days ahead.  

My great internal fear had brought about a desire to control what might come next for me and my loved ones...and as a result just below the surface of what was seen by others my soul was tense and in control, uptight, tearful and sad almost continually.  Just waiting for the next shoe to drop.  

Well, today, I am no less aware that trials and sufferings do come and will come.  But because I am learning to trust and turn my life, with all its challenges and pains, and the life of my loved ones, and the details of everyday, over to God knowing that He can do an infinitely better job than me caring for them, I feel so much more peaceful and safe than I have in months....my burden has been lifted from me by the One who loves us so!

If any of this resonates with any of you my dear friends, you might enjoy reading the book I mentioned above.  It’s not magical, its just a confirming read and a good guide to the joy of living a life which trusts and sees God by real faith.

Here are a few excerpts from its pages that I read just today:

“One who knows the king in disguise treats him very differently from another who, judging by appearances alone, fails to recognize his royalty and treats him as a commoner.  In the same way the soul that recognizes the will of God in even the smallest circumstances, even in those that are most distressing and fatal, receives them all with equal joy, pleasure, and respect.  That soul throws open all its doors to receive with honor what others fear and fly from in horror….To adore Jesus on the mount of Transfiguraton, to love the will of God in extraordinary things, does not show as much faith as loving the will of God in ordinary things and adoring Jesus on the cross.  For faith cannot be said to be real, living faith, until it is tested and has triumphed over everything that would destroy it….To consider God equally good in the most petty and ordinary events as in great and unusual ones is to have a faith that is not ordinary, but is itself great and extraordinary.

To be satisfied with the present moment is to delight in and to adore God’s will in all that comes to us to do or suffer through the succession of events each passing moment brings….What a delightful peace we enjoy when we have learned by faith to find God through all his creatures as through a transparent veil.  Then darkness becomes light, and bitterness becomes sweet.  Faith, showing us things as they are, transforms their ugliness into beauty and their malice into goodness.  Faith is the mother of gentleness, confidence, and joy.  It cannot help feeling tenderness and compassion for its enemies, by whose means it is so immeasurably enriched. While the human instrument seeks to injure us, the divine Workman does his work, making use of its very malice to remove from the soul al that is injurious to it.  The will of God is nothing but sweetness, grace, and treasures to the surrendered soul.

[If we understood that] crosses sent by Providence found in the circumstances of our lives lead to the highest perfection by a surer and shorter path than extraordinary states or spectacular works, and if we should understand that surrender to the will of God is the true philosopher’s stone that changes into divine gold all our occupations, troubles, and sufferings, what consolation would be ours! 

What courage would we derive from this thought:  that in order to acquire the friendship of God and to arrive at eternal glory, we have only to do what we are doing and to suffer what we are already suffering, and that what we waste and count as nothing is enough to bring us to greatest holiness, far more than any extraordinary state or wonderful works.  It will cost you no more than to do what you are doing, to suffer what you are suffering.  It is only your heart that must be changed.  What I say heart, I mean the will.  Holiness, then consists in willing all that God wills for us.  YES! Holiness of the heart is a simple “Let it be,” a simple conformity of the will with the will of God.  What could be easier, and who can refuse to love a will so kind and good?  Let us love God’s will and this love will make everything in us divine.”

Comments

[Diane]

Good morning, Kerry:)

Returned, again, this morning, to reread this beautiful post. Thank you for sharing!

[Paul Pennington]

Thanks Kerry...Reading this reminded me of the last time I had lunch with the most Godly man I have ever known. It was not long before his unexpected death. I asked Russel of all that he had learned from the Lord, what did he wish he'd learned sooner.......His reply with a smile was very quick and simple: " Just to Let GO"

Thanks Kerry for this post very timely and needed.
Paul

[Stacie Clifton]

Oh my, this is addressing EXACTLY where I am- I am so stuck, no MIRED in this mess. and everything I am- and have been for the last 15+ years has been fear motivated! I don't KNOW how to be different. I ahve tried so hard to be obeiant to God's will, and this is NOT how I expected things to work out. I want to write so much more, but too painful right now. Just a BIG thank you to Kerry- you are an inspiration-God is using you in a big way!

[julie in ca]

I am going to find this book. Thanks for the recommendation.

[kathy naylor]

I have ordered the book, as I gained so much from your blog. Pray for us!

[Ann]

Kerry,
I continue to pray for you. I was reading this verse today, as hard as it is at times, it's nice to remember He does not disappoint us.
Romans 5:3,4
We also REJOICE in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces PERSEVERANCE; perseverance, CHARACTER; and character, HOPE. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

It is so hard for me to remember that suffering leads to hope. I love the end of this verse; God has poured out his love into our hearts. I have this great visual of Him pouring His love straight into my heart. And it does give me hope. Praying for you today.
Praying--Ann