The Power Of Submission

Have you ever faced a situation or problem that kept you up all night? You tried to solve it, but nothing seemed to work? It brought contention, arguments, confusion, despair, loss or uncertainty. I’ve had my fair share of these moments. At this point, all you can do is cry out and say, ‘Jesus take the wheel’. It’s out of our hands. We humbly see that we can’t do it on our own. We have reached the point of submission.

Submission is a voluntary, willing and joyful act

Now, you may be thinking that submission is a weakness. Things haven’t gone your way and now you are resting it all in the hands of Jesus. But this is not a weakness, it is a strength. True submission requires power, authority and humility. It takes great strength to look at one’s life and accept that help is needed. It takes great strength to be humble enough to surrender the very things you have worked hard to make go your way. It takes strength to trust in the plans of God over your plans. True submission reflects obedience, humility and trust in the plans of God.

‘Submission is the willingness to give up our right to ourselves to freely surrender our insistence on having our own way all the time’

– Myles Munroe

Can you imagine how freeing it is knowing that God is the one in control? How freeing it is knowing that His plans, His promises, His Word will never fail? How freeing it is knowing that you don’t have to try make it work but allow Him to guide you? It frees us from the burden of needing things to go our own way. It is understanding that it is not by our might or power but through the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). True submission allows us to gain peace, wisdom and understanding. Our lens are shaped, and our perspectives are changed.

‘For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future’

– Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Though there is power in submission, we must be careful of what we submit to as it can become a weakness. True submission involves submission to God, but often, we may find ourselves submitted to something else. Ask yourself, what is leading you? Are your finances submitted to the hustle or God? Is your research submitted to the pressure or God? Are you submitted to unhappiness, fear, doubt, confusion, power, duty?

There is great power in submission, but outside of God, it can be our weakness.