June 20 – The Practice of Holy Surrender
Little by little, we let go of the resistance to being fully present, and that letting go is what we mean by surrender. Richard Rohr
Gregg’s Reflection
Surrender is not giving up—it’s giving over. It is not resignation, but trust. Surrender for an Enneagram 8 is near impossible. In my own life, surrender has been less about waving a white flag and more about opening my hands. I’ve learned that I cannot receive God’s gifts when my fists are clenched around my own plans.
Some of my most transformative moments have come when I finally stopped pushing and striving. Sometimes it was because I had nothing left to give; other times because I finally saw that my way was not leading to life. In those moments, surrender became a doorway—one that led not to defeat, but to freedom.
Holy surrender is rooted in the belief that God is good, that God can be trusted, and that God’s way, though often mysterious, will lead to life. It’s a daily practice, not a one-time decision. And it’s a practice that continually calls me deeper into love.
Scripture
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Psalm 37:5
Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire, and the chosen in the furnace of humiliation.
Sirach 2:4–5, Greek Septuagint
Ancient Quotes
Do not wish to be anything but what you are.
Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, p. 40
Modern Quotes
We cannot attain the presence of God. We’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s missing is awareness. Little by little, we let go of the resistance to being fully present, and that letting go is what we mean by surrender.
Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs, p. 28
Journaling Prompts
- Where in your life is God inviting you to let go of control?
- What fears surface when you consider surrendering your plans to God?
- Recall a time when letting go led to unexpected blessing—what did you learn?
- How might surrender become a daily spiritual rhythm for you?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 25 Reflection: Letting Go/Surrender