To what extent do we surrender?

[Amac1]

I know this is a very specific question for the stage CAF is at but would really appreciate some advice.

I am working hard to surrender worries to God. This is in life in general but also more specifically. I won’t say too much but my current worries are in relation to my workplace, coronavirus, my health etc. I have a lot of anxiety and stress regarding this. I have prayed and decided to surrender it all to Jesus. I immediately felt a peace and I am happy to leave this to Him.
However… as this concept is fairly new to me… to what extent to I take this?
In theory I have a number of things I would need to do tomorrow and people to contact etc to try to work through my worries (even though the thought of all those conversations is a worry in itself). Now I have surrendered, do I just forget about those conversations? Do I sit back and do my normal day’s work and wait for the Lord to do His work?
Or do I continue with those tasks, even though they will increase my stress and worries again?
How proactive do we be when we surrender? How much do we sit back and ‘wait’?
How can I discern what is something the Lord is asking me to do, or something I myself want to do.
Help

 

[MNathaniel]

Surrendering worry (my impression) is about trusting God with outcomes, and surrendering our disposition to anxiety and distrust of God, not about absolving ourselves from the responsibilities of our commitments or neglecting our health and well-being. God manages outcomes, but we’re still called to contribute (name removed by moderator)uts.

In theory I have a number of things I would need to do tomorrow and people to contact etc to try to work through my worries (even though the thought of all those conversations is a worry in itself). Now I have surrendered, do I just forget about those conversations? Do I sit back and do my normal day’s work and wait for the Lord to do His work?
Or do I continue with those tasks, even though they will increase my stress and worries again?

Only you can know whether the tasks and conversations of tomorrow are reasonably important to preserving your overall health, or maintain a positive employment situation.

If those tasks and conversations are important though (like consulting a doctor with a question about symptoms, or answering work emails within a reasonable turnaround time), surrendering worry doesn’t mean neglecting those tasks. It means carrying out those tasks while avoiding anxiety about it.

Which is certainly a challenging balance. Attending responsibly to important tasks while maintaining detachment about the outcome and leaving that outcome in God’s hands.

But basically, my understanding is: we do our part, and God does his part. God loves us and does take care of us, but we are still meant to do what we can.

Jesus didn’t just have the fish beach themselves on shore. He told Peter to put his nets down into the water.

So trust God and put your nets into the water; surrender anxiety but still perform those tasks which are reasonably important in the normal course of things.

 

[Amac1]

Perfect answer. Thank you so much

 

[Bluebright]

Ask God to take over everything and help you submit and really mean it. Then go about your normal tasks and business and listen out for his call. He’ll some how just make things fall how he wills and you move to his tune. Doesn’t mean things will go smoothly,just you will. God bless

 

[TheLittleLady]

Surrendering our anxiety and our cares to God does not mean resignation from our obligations nor inattention to our duties.

For example, COVID. Daily I surrender my anxiety to God. I also wear a mask, practice social distancing, proper handwashing, etc. If I were to test positive, I would notify everyone I’d possibly exposed.

Jobs. If I were unemployed, I would surrender my anxiety to God while still networking, sending out resumes, following up on interviews.