We often think we have surrendered everything to God until life throws a curveball that knocks the wind out of us.

It is easy to trust Him when the bills are paid and the family is healthy. But when the medical report comes back with bad news or the relationship falls apart, we suddenly realize how tightly we were gripping the steering wheel. I've been there, clutching my plans so hard that my knuckles turned white, terrified that if I let go, everything would shatter.

But God is inviting you into a deeper trust today.

Surrendering your heart is not about losing control; it is about placing your life in the hands of the One who loves you best.

Why We Hesitate to Let Go

Giving our hearts to God isn't for Him; it's for us.

He asks for our hearts because He knows that it is the best thing for us. It allows us to live in freedom and joy. It allows us to be exactly who He created us to be, the person He intended us to be before other people did things to us or we did foolish things that distorted His perfect intention.

And in reality, our hearts are the only things that we have to give Him. He doesn't need our money, or our stuff, or our time. He owns it all and none of it is truly worthy of the King. But our hearts—that is what He wants. We can choose to be stubborn, and He allows that, but then we miss out on the joy that comes with a fully surrendered heart.

So, why do we hold back?

Usually, it is fear. We fear that if we truly give God access to every room in our heart—even the messy, dark ones we keep locked—He might ask us to change something we aren't ready to release. Or perhaps we fear that His plan won't look like our plan.

Friend, I want to remind you that God is not a harsh taskmaster. He is a loving Father. When He asks for your heart, He is offering to take the heavy burdens you were never meant to carry.

1. Identify the Unsurrendered Spaces

You cannot surrender what you won't acknowledge.

We all have areas of our lives that we compartmentalise. We give God our Sunday mornings, but we keep our finances, our anxieties about our children, or our past hurts to ourselves. We think we are protecting ourselves, but really, we are just building walls that keep His healing out.

Ask yourself the hard questions today.

Where are you feeling the most anxiety? What is the one thing you are trying to fix in your own strength?

That anxiety is often a signal flare. It shows you exactly where you are trying to be God in your own life. Maybe you are struggling to see yourself the way God sees you. Or perhaps you feel trapped by fear or guilt. These are the spaces where God is gently knocking, asking to come in.

2. The Power of Prayer Journaling

God wants nothing more from us than our hearts. But sometimes there are areas that we are afraid to give Him because we still have unresolved issues that we need to deal with.

Prayer journaling is an excellent way to process all the junk that is getting in the way of our full surrender to God.

Think of it this way: Prayer journaling is a targeted way to work with God to surrender an area of your heart you have yet to give to Him. It is a love story between you and God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Like a plunger unclogging a blocked sink, prayer journaling clears the way for God’s goodness to flow freely, helping you live in the freedom and joy He intended.

• What if you could pick up the journal and the pen and get straight to business, picking the conversation right where you left off the day before? 
• What if the creativity of the journal helped you enter into the secret place right away? 
• What if journaling wasn't just a brain dump or a recording of events or things that are bugging you?
• What if it were more purposeful? More targeted?

When we write down our prayers, we slow down our racing thoughts. We create a record of our conversation with God. We can look back and see the thread of His faithfulness weaving through our messy days.

I invite you to explore the journals in the Journals by Crystal store. Each one is like a 30-day boot camp, where you work through one area of your heart you need to surrender to Him. Each journal comes with a 30-day scripture reading plan and prompts to help you hear what God is saying to you through the daily passage.

3. Replace the Lies with Truth

Our hearts are often filled with old scripts.

These are the lies we have believed about ourselves for years. "I am not good enough." "I am too broken." "God could never use someone like me." When we hold onto these lies, we cannot fully give our hearts to God because we don't believe He could possibly want them.

Surrender requires an exchange.

You give God the lie, and you accept His truth. This is not a one-time event; it is a daily habit. When the thought comes that says you are unlovable, you have to actively combat it with what God says.

If you are struggling to see yourself the way God sees you, the Defined by Grace Devotional Journal will help you replace the world's lies about you with who God says you are. It guides you through scripture to rebuild your identity on the solid rock of Christ, not the shifting sands of your feelings.

4. Trust His Character Over Your Circumstances

Giving God your heart is easy when the sun is shining. It is much harder in the storm.

Sometimes we simply don’t understand His plan—but we can trust His heart. Lean into the truth that He is always working for your good.

When we look at our circumstances, we often see chaos. We see pain that doesn't make sense. If we base our surrender on what we can see with our eyes, we will always pull back in fear.

But faith is trusting in the character of God.

He is good.
He is faithful.
He is the Healer.
He is the Redeemer.

Even in the most shattered places of your life, God is writing a beautiful, redemptive story. Healing doesn’t erase the pain, but it reveals His glory through it.

You were made for more than just surviving the hard moments. You were made to thrive—to rise each day fully knowing how deeply you are loved and how much you are capable of.

5. Embrace the Process

Surrender is a journey, not a destination.

You might give God your heart regarding a relationship today, and then find yourself taking it back tomorrow. That doesn't mean you have failed. It just means you are human.

God is patient with our process.

He isn't standing over you with a scorecard, marking down every time you stumble. He is walking beside you, whispering, "Trust Me again. Give it back to Me."

Find a Journal You Love: Choose one of the journals in the store that feels special, one that invites you to open it. You can choose the digital version for a lower cost. Print out the pages and add them to a binder. Or, for the best experience, click 'Order Print Version,' and Amazon will deliver a beautiful, high-quality printed prayer journal right to your door. This tool can be your companion as you learn to walk in daily surrender.

Here's how I've started using the Praying the Promises of the Cross: 40-Day Devotional Journal. Through a recent daily reading, God reminded me that, because of my relationship with Jesus, I don't have to strive to deserve love (Ephesians 1:6). 

*If you are curious about the Bible in the photo, you can get it here using my special link: Beautiful Word Bible.

Your Invitation to Freedom

Friend, I don’t know where you are in your healing process. Maybe you’ve just started to ask those deep, uncomfortable questions, or perhaps you’ve carried this pain in silence for as long as you can remember.

Wherever you are, know this: There is hope. God offers healing, fresh starts, and a love that reaches beyond your deepest wounds.

Giving God your heart is the scariest, bravest, and most rewarding thing you will ever do. It is the key that unlocks the cage of fear and lets you step out into the sunlight of His grace.

Will you trust Him with it today?

If you feel trapped by fear or guilt, the Liberated Lives Reflection Journal will help you find the true freedom that brings peace, purpose, and joy.

You don't have to do this alone. God is ready. He is waiting with open arms, ready to take the broken pieces of your heart and turn them into something beautiful.

Keep Reading

Why Your Heart Needs a 30-Day Bootcamp with God

If you're looking for a place to connect, dive deeper into everyday struggles, and find Bible-focused solutions for real-life problems, I invite you to check out my Substack publication Rewritten by Grace. You'll find free Christ-centred content designed to encourage and guide you. 

Plus, as a new subscriber to Rewritten by Grace, you'll receive a special discount on any digital product in my store, delivered right in your welcome letter.