Elize About Faith

To fully surrender to God’s way is something I’ve been reflecting on deeply, especially after reading the book of Job.

Job was a humble, God-fearing man. He worked hard, had a good life, and was blessed in many ways. But then everything changed. He lost his family, his wealth, and his health. It’s hard to even imagine that level of pain. What stands out to me most is not just what happened to Job, but how he responded.

His friends tried to make sense of it. They assumed he must have done something wrong, that his suffering was a punishment. But Job knew that wasn’t the case. He couldn’t explain why these tragedies had happened. And even though he was deeply grieved and questioned his situation, he never turned away from God.

He cried out. He lamented. He asked, “What have I done to deserve this?” But he didn’t let go of his faith.

That, to me, is what surrender looks like.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about people I know who have gone through deep loss and trauma. Situations where there are no easy answers, no comforting explanations. In those moments, words often feel empty. All I can really do is pray quietly and be present, holding space for their pain. Some things in life are simply very hard, and we have to acknowledge that honestly.

Like Job’s story shows us, suffering is not always the result of wrongdoing. We don’t always get clear answers. And surrender means letting go of the need to figure everything out or assign blame.

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 3:5–6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Surrender is not about giving up or becoming passive. It’s not about ignoring pain or pretending everything is okay. It’s about releasing the illusion that we are in control of everything, while still choosing to live with faith, honesty, and compassion.

Job never received a direct explanation for his suffering. Instead, he encountered the greatness of God in a deeper way. And that was enough for him.

I’ve also asked God many times why I went through certain painful experiences in my own childhood. I’ve wondered where He was in those moments. The answer that has settled in my heart is simple, even if it’s not always easy to accept – we are given free will as humans, but we are never alone. God is present with us, even in the pain.

Psalm 34:18 says:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

That doesn’t mean life won’t hurt. Trauma, grief, and loss are very real. But God promises that He walks with us through it. He meets us in our anger, our questions, and our healing.

Surrender, then, is choosing to trust God even when we don’t understand. It is holding onto Him in the middle of confusion and pain. It is believing that our story still has meaning, even when it doesn’t make sense.

And maybe that is where peace begins – not in having all the answers, but in knowing we are held by the One who does.