Maneuvers - No. 20
For a Life
Healed and Restored
What is it about surrender that makes it so difficult? Scary, even?
Could it be because we think a life surrendered to God means a life we don’t want? One of hardship, unending toil in the kingdom, a life in which we say goodbye to all the dreams we’ve held close to our hearts?
Nothing could be further from the truth, dear friend.
These are the lies our enemy tells us in an attempt to hold us back from the only thing that can release us into the joy-filled, abundant life that Jesus promised.
Surrender does not equal misery. Surrender equals freedom. Release. Fullness. Healing. Restoration.
Is that what you long for? A life restored, full of hope and beauty?
Then today, let’s reshape our view of surrender. Let’s see it for what it truly is: a release of control, a letting go of our burdens. Because the only way to enter into fullness is by releasing our own yokes and taking Jesus’ instead.
Are you ready? You’re not alone. Holy Spirit is guiding you each step of the way, holding your hand the entire time. So let’s listen to what he has to say today…
01.
The Message
“Will you wait on me now? Will you let me speak? Will you expect me? Will you believe I am here? I am not in disguise. I do not play games that are malicious and unkind. I am not coy or deceptive. I am not manipulative or hard-hearted toward you.
“My love for you is without end. I have died for you, and I would do it again and again. You are not alone. You are not on your own. It is not me who tells you you are by yourself—or that you need to be stronger or tougher or better equipped for life or success or relationships than you are. I have equipped you. I give you everything—all that you need.
“Yes, you have what you need to be healed. Yes, you have what you need to have a whole, restored heart. Yes, you have what you need to be loved. Yes, you have what you need to feel worthy. Yes, you have what you need to begin again and again and again. Your life begins each day, again, with me.
“Right now, child, begin again in me—in this moment of trial, in this moment of pain. Let me restore you completely, bit by bit. But I ask you to participate in this restoration; I want you to do this work with me.
“Here, here is my yoke. Put it on. Let me fit it perfectly for you. There, we are tethered, going in the same direction now. Notice how it feels to walk when you are attached to me. Look what effort you put forth with me walking with you versus you walking alone. I carry the burdens. I do the work; but your labor—for restoration, for healing, for hope—is not in vain when you walk, each step in sync with me.
“Child, I am for you. I am not against you. The challenges you face are not yours to carry alone. I hear each cry. I hear each plea. Listen to me in the moments of pain. Look at my face. See my eyes on you.
“Walk. Feel me next to you. Trust I am here. Give me each burden. Let me carry your load.”
02.
Listen
What images or memories does the word “healing” bring to your mind? And how does your heart respond when Holy Spirit says, “I am for you. I am not against you”? Let’s write down our response.
03.
Think
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19, NIV).
1. What personal burdens make up your “yoke”? How does your yoke differ from Jesus’ yoke?
2. What area of your life needs healing? It could be a relationship, a fear or insecurity, a sinful or harmful habit, or a traumatic event in your past. Whatever it is (and there may be many), write it down.
3. Look up Bible verses with the word “burden.” (Using a tool like BibleGateway.com or BibleHub.com can make this easier.) As you read through the verses, what is Holy Spirit showing you?
04.
Trust
The Christian life is not easy. It never has been and it never will be… if we carry the load ourselves.
Hudson Taylor knew this well. As a missionary to China in the 1800s, he had a busy, difficult time trying to reach the lost with the gospel. For years, he strained under his load.
But that all changed one day when a letter from a friend opened Hudson’s eyes to see the difference between the life he was living and what has been called “the exchanged life.”
Hudson’s life was one of striving and straining, trying to be good enough. The exchanged life, he realized, was one that was fully dependent on Jesus. Not just for salvation, but for every little thing.
That’s when the burden lifted for Hudson. He had more joy. More peace. His striving was gone, as was his exhaustion. Here’s what he said about it:
“As to work, mine was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the weight and strain are all gone. … I saw not only that Jesus would never leave me, but that I was a member of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. The vine now I see is not the root merely, but all—root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit: and Jesus is not only that: He is soil and sunshine, air and showers, and ten thousand times more than we have ever dreamed, wished for, or needed. Oh, the joy of seeing this truth!”*
This wasn’t merely an emotional experience for Hudson. It’s one he took into the rest of life, one that shaped his ministry and empowered him to reach the lost more effectively.
And it began with surrendering his burden. That process of surrender hasn’t changed over the last several hundred years. It’s still available to us, and it’s still the only way to live a life truly healed and restored.
Today, let’s allow Jesus to be our vine. Let’s give him our burden and let him give us his yoke.
Wherever you are, will you take a moment to rest in God’s presence with us? You can turn on worship music or rest in the silence—it’s up to you. But let’s simply rest and breathe with Jesus.
Right now, as we sit or kneel in Holy Spirit’s presence, let’s pray…
* “They Found the Secret” by V. Raymond Edman (1984), pg. 19-20.
05.
Pray
Jesus, thank you for being everything I need, and even more. You’re so much more than my salvation. You’re my everything, my healing, my restoration, my joy.
I’m sorry for trying to carry these burdens on my own. I give them to you, all of them. I want your yoke instead, Jesus. Will you help me put it on? And keep it on? When I’m tempted to take it off and put mine back on, will you remind me of the truth?
Quiet my soul here with you, and teach me to hear your voice, to let go of my efforts and simply let you lead. I know you have beautiful things in store for me. I can’t wait to see what we do together. I love you.
In your name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
