Shine Bright by Kristen Clark & Bethany Beal

Author:Kristen Clark & Bethany Beal [Clark, Kristen & Beal, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Devotional
ISBN: 9781493429769
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2021-04-20T04:00:00+00:00

READY TO GO DEEPER? Read Titus 2:3–5. What are some of the things this passage says an older woman can teach you right now? What things (like tips for raising kids) might you learn from a mentor later? Spend some time today praying for a mentor.

DAY 33

I Surrender

Not my will, but yours, be done.

Luke 22:42

At seventeen years old, at twenty, at twenty-four—I (Bethany) remember so clearly three times God asked me to surrender.

Basketball had been my passion for years. When I wasn’t playing or practicing, I was talking or thinking, even dreaming, about basketball. Turning seventeen and getting closer to high school graduation meant getting scouted by colleges and being offered some amazing scholarships—to Division 1 teams. It felt incredible! This was everything I’d been working toward and hoping for. Or was it?

The more I prayed about accepting the offers, the less peace I felt. I sought counsel from godly family and friends. I prayed hard. I thought about every possibility. I prayed more. And it finally became clear: God was inviting me to surrender this dream. I did believe He had a better plan for me, but that didn’t make it easy to trust. Turning down those scholarships felt like a big deal, but I chose to put my faith in God more than in a college opportunity.

Several years later, Kristen and I considered attending Bible school together. We applied and got accepted. It seemed like the right thing to do. All the planning and prep went well. Then, in some pretty crazy ways, God moved both of us in a different direction. I knew God had something else for me, but—again—I didn’t know exactly what that was. It was hard to surrender this dream, too, but I believed God would make His will clear.

Fast-forward a few more years, and I was dating a guy I really liked. Like really, really liked. I didn’t want to surrender this relationship to God, even though I could see some major red flags. Girl, I cried so many nights. I did not want to give this relationship up to the Lord. Jesus was so gentle with me. It was hard, but I let go of this guy. I told God, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” I share more about this in Love Defined: Discovering God’s Vision for Lasting Love and Satisfying Relationships.

Surrender can be super tough. It’s not even a word that gets much respect. The world makes it seem like surrendering equals being a coward, living in defeat, shrinking into a smaller life. God says the opposite. Surrendering to Jesus requires a lot of strength; it leads to victory and a greater life in Him.

When I hold on to my plans and dreams too tightly, it’s like I’m clenching my fists. I’m gripping the things that feel good and safe. But holding on so tightly to one thing (or multiple things) means I can’t receive what Jesus wants to give me—something that will be far better if I can bravely trust Him.

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