Mar 25, 2022
How do I learn to surrender?
When stress, overwhelm, and crisis make us feel desperate or helpless, we yearn for control. Today's guest, Michelle Lazurek, shares how her struggle with anxiety led her to become more equipped for life by learning to surrender to God.
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, literary agent, and certified writing coach. She describes her personal battle with severe anxiety issues and how she learned to surrender more fully to the Lord.
Lazurek points to Exodus 14, in which the Israelites lay down their weapons so the Lord can fight for them. She explores the idea of surrendering to God instead of fighting on our own behalf as a counter-cultural, counter-intuitive concept.
Michelle recounts a memory of listening to a hymn and considering what areas of our lives we need to surrender more fully to God.
We discuss how anxiety and perfectionism make surrender an even greater challenge.
Areas like finances, children, health and other sensitive issues can prove hardest to lay into the Lord's hands without worry or attempts to control them. Our desire to overcome fear with control has intensified in the wake of the current season.
Michelle discusses the paradox of surrender. She debunks the misunderstanding of surrender as the absence of action. Lazurek discerns the difference between busyness and productivity. Not all good activity serves as activity that proves good for us. Excess, schedule-filling work blocks us from experiencing deep intimacy with God.
Busy work feeds us with a false sense of purpose but fails to fulfill us. When we avoid burnout by saying "no" to excess activities and instead make room for the things God ultimately calls us to do, we have space to deepen our relationship with the Lord and our anxiety diminishes.
Michelle details her journey of sharing her struggle with anxiety openly with her church. She notes how she wrestled with shame lies and prayed through negative thoughts. Lazurek praises her church for their compassionate response to her suffering.
The prayers and cards she received from those who supported her helped Michelle realize she no longer needed to perform in order to receive acceptance from her church family. While a few people did make insensitive remarks, the comments from those who found her transparency validating or inspiring provided strength and encouragement.
Michelle states the central importance of authenticity in the process of surrendering to God.
Lazurek notes the connection between the medical, spiritual, and mental/emotional. She offers examples of helpful and counterproductive ways to respond to someone in crisis.
Michelle recommends meditating upon God's Word. She also emphasizes the importance of taking time to listen during prayer time.
Connect with Michelle Lazurek or get a copy of her new book, I Surrender All (Sort of) on her website at http://www.michellelazurek.com/
If you would like more information, feel free to fill out the contact form there.