Confessions of a Surrendering Hot Mess

Thursday, December 18th
Confessions of a Surrendering Hot Mess
By: Sheila Sonon

God doesn’t ask for half-hearted submission, polished appearances, or the kind of obedience we put on when people are watching. He calls us to full surrender—the kind that begins in the hidden places of our hearts. And let’s be honest: that’s the hardest place to let go. Doing the “right thing” is one thing. Actually trusting God when we don’t understand?
 That’s another story.

Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” That means every task—whether it’s a board meeting, a carpool line, scrubbing a sink, or digging through that one drawer we all have (you know the one… the black hole of random life items)—becomes an act of worship. God sees our effort, our motives, and our heart far more than any applause or approval from people. When we work for Him, everything gains purpose. Nothing is wasted.

But even when we know this truth, surrender can still feel impossible. For me, it often looks like taking my anxiety, stress, and disorganized life—basically handing God a bundle of emotional confetti—and saying, “Okay Lord… good luck.” And somehow, He takes my shredded mess and returns it in a way I never expected. Sometimes better. Sometimes brand-new. Always exactly what I needed.

Does He shake me up in the process? Oh, absolutely. Sometimes it feels like God tossed my life into a blender, hit “purée,” and then said, “Trust Me.” But after the tailspin, the dust settles, and I can finally see what He was doing—His plan is always better than the one I tried desperately to control.

True submission isn’t painless, but it is powerful. And when we hand everything over—our worries, our plans, our chaos—God doesn’t just fix it. He transforms it. And He transforms us.