John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

“Why Lord why” are words that often fall upon the lips of those of us that have suffered sudden loss. We want someone to make sense of sudden tragic death. In our pain nothing makes sense. In our loss we feel an emptiness that was once filled with the words, actions, experiences and love of a person who is now gone from among us.

While there was still a glimmer of hope, no matter how small we pray. We pray not for the will of God, we pray for what we want, restoration of life and love. That is not selfish, that is love longing to pour itself out upon the object of our affection. Love is never wrong.

I found myself praying words I had never used before to my Father. “This is why You sent Your Son.” My understanding and my intention was to remind God that the love He has shed in our hearts is because of the faith we have in His Son Jesus Christ. That love and that faith is the power of God and it is meant for good. Sadly it doesn’t bend to our will and replace the will of God.

We know the love of God and on these days when why cannot be answered with words, it can be answered by using the love that is in us to let others know the love of Christ. Love doesn’t die.

May the God of all comfort embrace you in His arms because He knows what it means to live and die, but more than that He knows how to love.

Genesis 3:10c–21 I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself… Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Over the years I have heard many a surrender story. They vary in detail, some awesome, some meek, some that sound all too familiar to my own. As I examine each story I admit to myself, yes that would make me surrender, or lucky him/her to have forgone the pain I suffered. While each and every story was personal, they all contain the three key elements Adam expresses to God in Genesis 3:10 as stated above.

Conviction, I was afraid. This varies in wide degrees of experience and expression, from discomfort to being brought trembling to ones knees. God is willing to accept the least form of conviction if you sincerely feel it. He would prefer that, but if you need to feel it more strongly to surrender, then so be it. That’s your choice.

Confession, I was naked. Some will be quick to point out Adam might have confessed that he disobeyed God but that is a foregone conclusion. Confession really should be a statement of condition that results from performing that sin. It is more than an admission of sin, it is an awareness of how sin effected your character and is the point of restoration. What good will it do if your sin is merely forgiven and you are left with the character flaw? God is all about restoration, bringing us back to His original design.

Repentance, I hid myself.  Adam revealed his location to God by speech. All too often we look at repentance as merely turning from our sins but how many of us in that moment ask God, “What is my first step back to you?” Many of us omit this step because we only confessed the offense and failed to address the change sin caused in us. Changes in character do not happen because we wish it to be that way. They require steps to be taken to develop character which is required to make you more Christ like. This is evidenced by Genesis 10:21, God providing the covering.

Every one of the surrender stories I have heard contain these three elements. Surrendering to Christ and ending the rebellion brings peace to the sinner who surrenders to righteousness. Do you have a surrender story? Share it. If you do not…..

What is it going to take to get you to surrender?