Surrender to Simple

We live in a world that continues to grow increasingly complex, thanks to constant technology advances, more means of indirect communication and a deepening divide in beliefs and morals.

Yet, I have to believe that, at our core, there is a desire to return to a more simple life.

No, I don’t mean reverting back to a world without cars or the internet or cell phones. Although, I’m sure some reading this are thinking, “I would love to go without those things! Then I KNOW life would be easier and much less stressful.”

I will say that I hear you. But, I don’t necessarily agree. In all practicality, our habits and lifestyles have become interdependent on those things - more than some even realize - and there is good that those things bring when used as intended.

Rather, when I refer to the simple life that we desire at our core, I mean a reshifting of focus to get more out of the ‘simple’ things in life that do exist.

Take the leaves changing color on trees in the fall, or a baby giggling when you make a silly face.

At the root of it (no pun intended!), all the leaves are doing is changing from green to red or yellow. We see this same thing every year, yet every year we take pictures to capture the beauty, watch color reports during the weather segments on T.V. and plan Sunday afternoon drives to see the changes happening all across the landscape.

And, sure, when a baby laughs we might be doing a repeated behavior that triggers it, but we aren’t responsible for deciding when they will laugh or what they find to be funny. Instead, we mostly get to just enjoy the sweet sounds erupting from within such tiny bodies.

So, what makes us enjoy these more simple bits of life so much?

I would argue that it is our lack of control and understanding over them.

Unless you are a tree expert, how many of us can say we know all there is to know about the color changes happening in leaves? And even experts would have to admit that, even with their understanding, they can’t actually make the leaves change under their own power.

And it might be a coincidence that a baby laughs right at the time you try to make them, but we all know that, really, we are completely clueless about when, how and why babies laugh.

Since our lack of control and understanding of these things is no secret, we are allowed to be free of feeling like we need to try to control or understand them.

This refocus on the simpler things in life hinges on the idea that by giving up control and understanding, we are able to better enjoy them.

So, why can’t we use that same method of thought to get more joy out of the more confusing and complicated things and situations in life?

The truth is that we can and totally should, but we find it harder to relinquish control of the things that we perceive to have a higher stake in the course of our lives - relationships, finances, career moves, etc.

The only way that it is possible to let go of the control and understanding over these bigger things is to transfer it to someone who does know and understands more than we could imagine to the most intimate detail.

“You have searched me, Lord and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.” - Psalm 139:1-3

God knows us, our situations and this world better and more deeply than anyone - because He created it all.

He promises that he will take care of us and watch over us. 

This applies to all things - no matter how messy or heavy or complicated. He knows us and what is best for our lives, and He will not lead us wrong.

We left the control and understanding of leaves and laughter to God long ago, and look how beautiful that turned out.

So, friends, I urge you to surrender the things that weigh the most on you, that seem most complicated and require the most control.

Just like God knows how and when to dress the trees for fall and light up a baby’s face, God knows all there is to know about how to navigate our lives - and He won’t mess it up.

Offer your life up to Him, pray that He is the one in control and leading the way, and find that a more simple life does exist.

Then, the only thing left to do is to bask in the joy of it.