We adopted our dog Layla as a puppy from the county animal control shelter when she was 4 months old. As I read her paperwork, I saw that she had been surrendered and that word just stuck in my craw for some reason.
“Being surrendered” to me equated with not being wanted and it made me so sad. Sad for Layla and sad for her previous owners. She was absolutely the sweetest, calmest, snuggliest puppy and I couldn’t imagine the circumstances that led them to willingly give her up. But here she was, no choice in the matter, hoping that someone would choose her.
I think that was the sticking point for me – no choice in the matter. Too many times in our lives we are in situations where we have no choice, no power. Or at least it may feel that way. And when we give up that power of choice, we have to hope and trust the one who IS in power will make a decision in our best interest. And that can be terrifying.
That’s where faith comes in. When we surrender our selves, our lives to God, we are trusting that he will have our back. We are believing that even though following him may not always be easy, we WILL have a choice in the matter. The choice to be surrendered AND chosen and wanted and loved unconditionally.