A Place Called Surrender

What does it mean to surrender to God?

The idea can be a frightening one for those of us used to being in full control of our circumstances and destinies (or at least, we would like to think we're in control). It's usually when we run into a brick wall through illness, death or loss that we are forced to consider that there are some things that are beyond our human abilities to comprehend or resolve. Even then, we do not automatically run to God; sometimes, we run away.

A Place Called Surrender is the story of Pastor Dan Roelofs, who through his battle with cancer learnt the meaning of surrendering everything to God. He died in 2003 at the age of 33. I first came across his website www.danroelofs.com when I was reading Larry Julian's book God Is My Success, which I've reviewed in an earlier post. It is an online journal of how he struggled with very real human issues and questions that plague all of us, and how he finally found peace by resting in God's bigger plans for his life rather than asking whether God would heal him. The website has since been regularly updated by his wife Tammy, who shares how she and their sons have coped since Dan's passing.

I recommend the site to all who share Dan's struggle, which is really our struggle too.