I Surrender All

As I live with chronic illness, my body forces me to listen to symptoms of unpredictable flares. Sometimes, my symptoms force me to cease striving (Ps. 46:10a NASB), to rest, to be still, as I use all the therapies doctors suggest. My calendar and to-do lists are wiped clean until symptoms subside. I have no choice but to listen to my body as I pray for His quick release. These are holy and sacred moments to know that I am God (Ps. 46:10b NASB). As our minds zoom in on our symptoms, could we entrust our pain to the One who intimately cares for His beloved children in sick bodies? 

All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all

Surrender of our bodies to God is a space of offering, by the mercies of God (Rom. 12:1 ESV). We worship our compassionate God when we present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1 ESV). He tells us your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price (I Cor. 6:19-20 ESV). We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14) by our Creator! Our bodies are His perfect design. He also tells us we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10 ESV). 

Could surrendered listening to Him be a “good work” in our walk of physical suffering?

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now

(I Surrender All, Van DeVenter, J.W., 1896)

Listening to God as I listen to my body

The world tells us physical suffering is a bad thing. We don’t want it and beg God to remove it. 

Noticing the Greek for this verse, I learn that He assists and strengthens us when we experience infirmity, providing His power to be content and satisfied as He accomplishes His perfecting, sanctifying work through it. He prunes us to bear more fruit as we abide with Him in those surrendered moments (Jn. 15:1-27). He transforms and renovates our thoughts, feelings, desires, and purposes (Rom. 12:2) as we seek Him from the sickbed. Oh, how we seek Him there…because illness brings anxiety, doesn’t it? Our compassionate Father knows: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (I Pet. 5:7 NIV). Jesus lovingly soothes us: Do not be anxious…about your body (Mt. 6:25 ESV). Could surrendered, pain-forced spaces of listening become good things?

All to Jesus I surrender
Make me Savior wholly thine
May Thy Holy Spirit fill me
May I know Thy power divine

Glorifying God as I listen to my body

If His grace is sufficient in my infirmity, I can glorify Him through actively surrendered praise to Him, even as I suffer. Glorify God in your body (I Cor. 6:20 ESV). Whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31 ESV). 

Self-care and mindfulness could include praising, celebrating, honoring and magnifying the Lord as we set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col. 3:2a NIV). Intentionally giving thanks (Col. 3:17) for blessings also helps us endure symptoms. As we come to our Savior and Redeemer, our Suffering Servant, we remember He intimately empathizes with our pain (Heb. 4:14-16).

When my physical symptoms arise, clinging to Scriptures about God’s unchanging character, presence, and the work of Christ produces a settled soul-rest. He transforms my suffering into surrendered places of worship, especially as I am able to focus my mind and sing these truths of His Word. As you pray for healing and care for your body today, will you sing along with me? Let’s sing Christ’s hope INTO our suffering. 

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

Do you know someone who is suffering physically? Please share this. Continual battles of illness are as much emotional and spiritual as they are physical. I am praying for you, dear reader, if you also suffer in this way, whether it’s arthritis, migraine headaches, autoimmune disease, dysautonomia, or recurring cancer. His grace is sufficient for us in our thorns, just as it was for the Apostle Paul.

Dear Father, we praise You for Your sufficient grace, all centralized in the person and work of Jesus Christ at the cross. Our soul finds rest there. Hold us and hide us away as we surrender, near to You. In the name of Jesus, our blessed Savior, amen.

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