Journeying With Christ: The Coptic Month of Kiahk of the Nativity FastSýnishorn

Week 1 Theme: Preparing for the Birth of St. John the Forerunner

Day 7: Surrendering to God's Will

As we continue our journey of preparation, we arrive at a crucial lesson - the importance of surrendering to God's will. In today's reading from Luke 1:21-25, we witness the restoration of Zacharias' speech when he affirmed the name of his son as John. This miraculous event serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of yielding our desires and plans to God's perfect will.

Zacharias doubted the proclamation, leading to his temporary muteness but when he obediently declared the name given by the Lord, his speech was restored. This encounter highlights the transformative power of surrendering to God's will and the restoration that comes from aligning ourselves with His divine purposes.

The Early Church Father, St. John Chrysostom, reminds us of the importance of humility and submission to God's authority. He says, "By being fair to all men and by appearing to be lowly rather than superior to those amongst whom he was traveling. For it is a recognized principle that God by His very nature accepts the humble and the human race loves those who are willing to be submissive (hypotassō) to them". He teaches us to yield our desires and plans to God's perfect will, recognizing that His purposes are greater than our own, and emphasizes the importance of humility and submission, not just to God, but also to fellow human beings. In surrendering to God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and trust in His wisdom and goodness.

Surrendering to God's will is not an act of defeat but rather an act of faith. It requires us to lay aside our own ambitions, preferences, and expectations and to trust that God's plans for us are far better than anything we could imagine. It involves releasing control and surrendering the outcomes of our lives to the One who knows us intimately and desires the best for us.

In our journey with Christ, surrendering to God's will becomes a transformative process. It is through surrender that we open ourselves to God's guidance and allow His Spirit to work within us, shaping us into the image of Christ. As we yield to Him, He equips us with the strength and wisdom needed to navigate life's challenges and to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

Surrendering to God's will also brings freedom. When we release our own agendas and submit to His leading, we experience liberation from the burdens of self-reliance and the anxiety of trying to control every aspect of our lives. Instead, we find rest and peace in knowing that we are held in the loving hands of our Heavenly Father, who is faithful to guide and provide for us.

During this season of expectation, let us reflect on our own surrender to God's will. St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” Are there areas of our lives where we have been resistant or hesitant to let go? Are there dreams or plans that we have been holding onto tightly, without seeking God's guidance? Let us invite the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of our hearts that need surrender and offer them willingly to God.

As we surrender to God's will, we can trust that His faithfulness remains unwavering. Just as God remained faithful to His promises and restored Zacharias's speech, He will be faithful to fulfill His promises in our lives. We may not always understand His ways or the timing of His plans, but we can have confidence that His purposes are for our ultimate good and His glory.

In surrendering to God's will, we embrace a posture of trust and obedience. We acknowledge that our lives are part of a greater story, intricately woven by the hands of a loving and sovereign God. As we yield our desires and plans, we invite Him to lead us on a journey that surpasses our expectations and brings us closer to Him.