It all started when I saw this beautiful watercolor image on a puzzle box…a 300-piece puzzle box to be more specific. And I thought to myself “this is so pretty…but who got time to put together a 300-piece puzzle with a sensational six-year-old (also known as my tiny coworker) running around?!?”

For a moment, I thought about walking away…but I couldn’t. I mean, hey….I like a challenge. So I purchased it and I couldn’t wait to get it opened. I was so excited…so exhilarated…soooooo ready to get started…until I opened the box and allllllllll the tiny pieces spilled onto the floor. And immediately, I thought…”Sachel, what the heck did you just get yourself into?!? It’s going to take you forever to get this done!!” So I did the only thing I could do: I got a glass of wine. I took a sip, took a deep breath, started with the corners and began to build the foundation. It took me a while to get the border of the puzzle put together, but the more I leaned into the process, the more I began to surrender to the process.

For the last few years, my life has felt like a pile of puzzle pieces. And chiiiiiiillllleeeeeee….have I been frustrated. I’ve tried forcing pieces to fit together because they LOOKED like a perfect match, only to realize in the end, they weren’t even close to being the right fit. I’ve been the poster child for struggle, ready to throw everything away and start over. I’ve had my moments of thinking to myself “This is too much. Jesus did NOT die on the cross for me to go through all of this. Nope…He didn’t.” And it was in those moments, I’d hear His soft whisper say to me “but I really did though…”

In John 16:33, Jesus says “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

The truth is, as challenging as these past few years have been, they’ve also been the most rewarding. I’ve learned how to truly trust God with ALLLLLLLL the pieces of my life. The happy pieces, the broken pieces, the ugly pieces…the joyful pieces, the shameful pieces, the angry pieces and the pieces that felt undeserving of His grace, mercy and love. It hasn’t been an easy process. As a matter of fact, it’s STILL downright painful at times. But if I didn’t learn how to trust His process and surrender the puzzle pieces of my life to the ultimate fixer, I knew I would just keep going in cycles…doing the same thing over and over again and expecting change (ummm…can someone say insanity?!).

So how do you really come to a place of surrender? Because if you’re anything like me, you’ve tried a time or…500, and you just can’t bring yourself to fully surrender. I get it. Maybe there’s a piece of your heart you have no problem giving over to Jesus. But what about that piece waaaaay in the back? You know…that piece that you gave over to someone else once and they took advantage of it and so now you keep it locked away. That piece? And all the other pieces like it? Yea, God wants all of that. See the thing about surrender is, when God asks us to surrender, He’s not just asking for pieces of us to surrender. He’s asking for ALL of us. ALL OF THE PUZZLE PIECES.

Here’s a few things I’ve learned:

1. Channel your inner Queen Elsa.

Your need to be in control? Let it go. Your manipulation of situations so you can get the desired outcome? Let it go. Got anger issues? Let them go. Trust issues? DEFINITELY let that go. The plans you have for your life because you’re the expert? Yeaaaa….you’re not. So let it go. When you choose to surrender to God, it means you are releasing yourself from the pressure of running your own life and instead, you choose to believe God has a plan for your life and it’s a plan not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope like He says in Jeremiah 29:11.

2. Get Busy.

And I don’t mean busy for just busy sake. Being busy for busy sake is called distraction, and honey if it’s ONE thing you don’t have time for this season…it’s being distracted. No, I mean get busy with the things of the Lord. If you look over this season, I’m sure there is at least ONE thing that you’ve been putting off or procrastinating on because you’ve been so busy being obssessed with the storms you’re facing. Can I tell you a secret? Putting that thing off isn’t just impacting you. When you you become busy for busy’s sake and choose to procrastinate starting the thing God has told you to start, you’re not just delaying the start….you’re delaying a blessing. The gift He’s given you isn’t just for you. It’s for a people. Someone needs what’s on the inside of you. And they need it NOW. So if you think you need a sign in order to get started, consider this your sign. Stop delaying. Stop procrastinating. Get busy on the task God’s given you and leave the hurt, pain and obsession you have with this season you’re in at His feet. He’s got you.

3. Stay Sharp.

Sigh…..Accountability. It’s the thing that some folks quite honestly can’t stand. I mean seriously….”I’m an adult. And I don’t owe ANYBODY an explaination!” I hear you. And trust me, I feel you in my soul. But here’s the thing: none of us were made to do life alone. We need community and people who can call us out on our BS. I have a friend who consistently does just that and as disrespectful as she can be sometimes, the truth is, I know God placed her in my life. The circle God has gifted me with is one of the most beautiful pictures of “iron sharpening iron” I’ve ever seen. Who are the people you can be vulnerable with? Do you have someone or (a group of someones) you allow to hold you accountable and correct you…WITHOUT you getting offended? So many times, we’re quick to get offended at Godly correction….quick to say “ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME!” But honey listen…that’s NOT Bible. That’s Tupac. Let’s not confuse the two mmmmkay?

4. Pray….and then Mind. Your. Business.

Can I be honest? There are times that I pray about something and then leave it at the feet of Jesus. And theeeennnn….when I think enough time has passed, I’m back at the feet of Jesus, with a *few* suggestions, checking on the progress of my prayers.

Sound familiar?

It’s ok! We’ve all been there! But progress comes when we don’t stay there. God knows what’s in your heart. He knows your concerns….He also doesn’t need your help addressing them. God is the Alpha and the Omega….the beginning and the end. This means He already knows your middle and what will happen. So pray about it. He says to make our requests known. But after you lay your requests at His feet? LEAVE THEM THERE AND MIND YOUR BUSINESS. HE’S GOT YOU.

Coming to a true place of surrender is a process. It’s not something that just happens overnight. And let me tell you this process is NOT easy. It’s a day by day…hour, by hour, minute by minute…shoot sometimes it’s a second by second process. Why? Because it’s a battle of the flesh. But let me tell you: it’s in the surrender that you really see God. My puzzle isn’t even closed to being finished. But just like my life, one day it will be. And when it is, I know it’ll be a beautiful masterpiece…all because I chose to surrender to the process.

What pieces of your life do you need to trust God with? Let me know in the comments below. And if you’d like for me to pray for you and your journey of surrender, let me know. I’d be so honored to walk this journey with you.

xoxoxoxo,