“We have to get to practice, hurry! Eat this protein bar and chug this water!” I yell to my oldest son as I run down the stairs, out the front door, to head to baseball practice.
The beginning of the year feels like a mad rush and, if I’m honest, feels like a sacrifice of my sanity.
Life in my home is full and lively with two active boys, each with their own needs and busy schedules. Some days, the pace leaves me feeling stretched thin. My first instinct is often to rearrange my calendar and try to manage everything myself. But I see now that trying to fix overwhelm by working harder only deepens it. I am called to see these moments not just as challenges, but as reminders to pause and turn to God, to let go and rely on His strength instead of my own.
Slowly, I notice that my desire to control is really a longing for peace. True rest comes when I surrender, letting go of my grip on every detail. In the midst of busyness that threatens to steal my joy, I remember Jesus’ gentle invitation to come away with Him, to step into a quieter space where I can simply be present.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
—Matthew 11:28–30
The truth is, surrender doesn’t always change the circumstances. My kids still need to get to practice. The calendar is still full. The laundry still piles up. But what surrender does change is the posture of my heart. Instead of carrying the weight alone, I invite Jesus to carry it with me. Instead of rushing ahead with my own plans, I open my hands and ask Him to guide me.
And here’s the beautiful part: clarity often comes in the letting go. When I loosen my grip, I notice the small ways God is already at work…nudging me toward what matters most, showing me what can wait, and whispering peace into my anxious heart. Sometimes surrender does mean trimming my schedule or making adjustments. Other times, it simply means remembering I’m not in charge of holding the whole world together. God is.
If you’re in a busy season right now, or if you find yourself constantly trying to manage and control every detail, I want to encourage you: surrender is not giving up. Surrender is entrusting your life and your plans into God’s capable hands. It’s in that release that He meets us with peace, and often with surprising clarity.
