Let’s be real; submission can be hard. And honestly, it can be quite challenging to do this willingly, especially in a world where people break your trust constantly. This trust is something that won’t be the same if damaged. As Christians, we are called to hand over our lives and submit to his ways for His sake -- to trust him completely. But, what does this mean?

First of all, submitting to God’s ways means to humble yourself. Humility is always a good trait to have; however, it is extremely significant to have in this process. With this, you should understand that he is, as the lyrics from ‘Good Good Father reveal, “perfect in all of [his] ways” (Tomlin, 2015). God was, is, and always will be the ultimate reality. Though God made us in his image, we are not equivalent to him. It is crucial to realize that since Christ is perfection yet we fall short of God’s standard everyday through sin, he is deserving of praise. Only through the grace of God are we able to be saved. Without him, we would get what we deserve: death. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “he must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Along with humbleness, it means recognizing that it’s not all about you. Selflessness is key. It is necessary to understand that the reason why we are here isn’t for your glory but his. Therefore, who are we to say that we have the authority to determine our life? Last time I checked, God’s the one that is in control and created us into existence. If we didn’t have him, we wouldn’t be here in the first place.

Also, submission to God means saying no for His purposes. Letting go of your desires may be quite difficult. Especially if both options could give you a chance to glorify God. Though it hurts now and you may doubt his logic, temporary discomfort is okay because at the end of it all, it will be completely worth it. As he told the prophet Jeremiah when he questioned God’s calling for his life, “I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Furthermore, being vulnerable is an automatic for genuine submission to the Lord. There’s no turning back. You are going to be feel fully exposed, an open book. Your heart will be examined. The temptations and sins will be put into the light. Vulnerability places you into a position where you are fully putting your life into his hands -- giving him all your burdens, anxieties, and fears and trusting him with them. Besides, he is omniscient… so why are you still trying to hide?

Ultimately, it is trusting that at the end of the road, everything will be okay. It is that hope that he will someday use this to grow you spiritually into the person that God made you to be.

As I touched on earlier, this process is not easy. And yes, I get it; I’ve been there. This life can definitely have its rough patches -- those times that can feel almost unbearable as if there is no escape. But, he knows. God sent his beloved son, Jesus Christ, to take your sin onto himself so that you may be with him eternally if we believe. So, what should our response be to that? Submit to him, and seek his ways, always.

Barrett, Pat, and Tony Brown. Good Good Father. Chris Tomlin. Ed Cash, Jeremy Edwardson, Ross Copperman, 2015. CD.