Just Breathe: Hope And Help For Those Drowning In The Pain Of Addictionናሙና

Relinquish Control Part 1

What comes to your mind when you think of the word surrender? I used to always have negative images in my mind when I thought of that word, like it was kind of bad news. Like somebody getting slammed up against a police car or a wimpy guy giving up way too soon. But I’m learning that the true definition of surrender is to relinquish control to someone else. 

I like that definition. It describes that there is a choice of the person surrendering to “give up control.” True surrender isn’t a forced act. It’s not mindless, but rather a conscious choice to let go and give leadership to someone else—someone who is stronger, more capable, and more powerful than you and me. And it’s actually good news. Getting to a place of true brokenness—not just being miserable, but being broken—gets us to a place where we are ready to take the next key step: surrender. 

Can I tell you why it took me so long to surrender? There was this thing in me that kept me relying on my own power. EGO. We talk a lot about pride, self-centeredness, and ego in the twelve-step program because it’s the real root of our addiction. We remind one another of what EGO stands for: Edging God Out. We can get so full of ourselves that there’s no room for God. We start thinking, I really am the center of the universe. I think it’s why the Bible says that God detests pride; it keeps us from experiencing his love, his acceptance, his power, and his leadership, which he knows could change everything.  Humility is the key to recovery. We have to quit playing God and choose to surrender to his care and control.