Give It to God: 6 Powerful Ways to Let Go & Let God

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Life can often feel overwhelming, as we juggle the many responsibilities that come our way—family, work, relationships, and personal challenges. It’s in these moments that we might find ourselves clinging tightly to control, desperate to manage every detail. Yet we’re called to a life of trust and surrender, to give it to God.

This journey of relinquishing control is not easy; it requires faith and the courage to let go. I remember a time when I struggled to release my anxieties about a significant decision. Despite my prayers, I held onto the worry, until I finally realized that peace could only come when I truly surrendered it to God. If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar place, read on to discover how you can give it to God and find peace through faith.

Be sure to get your FREE Surrender 30-Day Devotional to Seek God for Direction at the end of this post!

What Does It Mean to Give It to God?

Giving it to God is more than just a phrase we hear in passing; it is a profound spiritual practice rooted in trust and surrender. The Hebrew word for trust, bittachon (בִּטָּחוֹן), captures the essence of placing our confidence entirely in God. It’s an act of letting go of our perceived control and allowing HaShem to lead our lives, as King David expressed in Psalm 37:5, which the Tanakh (The Old Testament) puts quite plainly:

“Leave all to the LORD;
trust in Him; He will do it.”

JPS Tanakh

To give it to God is to acknowledge that we are not the masters of our destiny; rather, we trust in the One who is. This is not about passivity, but about active faith—trusting that God’s plans are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and believing that He is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28). It’s a daily decision to cast our burdens onto Him, as the Apostle Peter encourages us:

“Cast all your worries on Him, for He cares for you”.

1 Peter 5:7 TLV

The True Meaning of Surrendering to God

Surrendering to God goes beyond the idea of merely letting go. It is a deep, intentional act of yielding every aspect of our lives to His divine will. In Hebrew, the word hachna’ah (הַכְנָעָה) means submission or surrender, which reflects a heart posture of complete reliance on God. This surrender is not about defeat but about trusting God’s sovereignty and His perfect timing.

Surrendering means releasing our need to control outcomes and trusting that God’s way is not only better but perfect. It involves placing our hopes, dreams, fears, and worries into His hands, believing that He cares for us with an everlasting love. As Yeshua modeled in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42), surrendering to God is a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment, choice to align our will with His.

A Personal Journey of Surrender

You might be thinking, “Easier said than done, Diane!” And you’re right. Surrendering to God is often challenging, especially when life feels out of control. I know this from personal experience.

A couple of years ago, my husband and I found ourselves in a difficult situation. We had moved to a place that just wasn’t working out for us, but it was necessary for him to complete his doctorate. From the start, things felt off, and soon, everything seemed to fall apart. Even our daughter, in her first year of high school, struggled to fit in. We knew it was time to move on, but that proved to be easier said than done.

My husband began applying for jobs across the country. His career required us to be open to moving wherever the opportunities arose, and given past experience, we assumed he would quickly land a position. But we were wrong.

He had countless interviews—so many that I had to create a spreadsheet just to keep track of them. He was traveling frequently, and each time, he was a finalist. Yet, each door seemed to slam shut. Job after job, rejection after rejection, we were left baffled. It felt like we were wandering in our own personal wilderness, lost and confused about where God was leading us.

Then, one day, while my husband was at the airport after yet another interview, he called me. His words gave me goosebumps: “We’re going home!” He had just been offered a job back home in Connecticut, a job we hadn’t even considered before. Suddenly, everything made sense, and I was overwhelmed with emotion.

As I reflected on what had happened, I realized something important. Months earlier, before we even began looking for jobs, my husband and daughter had helped me set up a dedicated space for prayer in our home.

I had written down my prayer requests on the wall, including a prayer for God to make a way for us to return home. In the chaos of our situation, I had forgotten that I had already placed this in God’s hands.

It was a powerful reminder that it is easy to trust God when things are going well, but much harder when we’re in the midst of the storm. I thought I had given the situation to God, but in reality, I was still trying to direct how it should unfold. True surrender means letting go of our own plans and trusting God to lead, even when the path is unclear.

So let’s look at some practical ways we can surrender to God and let Him handle whatever situation arises.

Trusting God When the Answer is “No”

Sometimes, giving it to God means accepting that His answer might not align with our desires. It can be difficult to hear “no” or “wait,” especially when we believe our requests are good or even necessary.

Yet, trusting God means believing that His wisdom far surpasses ours, and His “no” is often for our protection or preparation.

Consider the words of Yeshua in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prayed for the cup to pass from Him, but ultimately surrendered to God’s will (Luke 22:42). Trusting God when the answer is “no” is a vital part of our faith journey, teaching us patience and deeper reliance on His perfect plan.

Reflection Question: How have you responded to God’s “no” in your life, and how can you trust Him more in these moments?

The Role of Faith in Surrender

Faith is the foundation of surrender. Without faith, surrendering to God can feel like a loss of control rather than a step toward divine alignment.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen.” To surrender in faith means trusting in what we cannot see and believing that God is at work behind the scenes.

The story of Abraham, who left everything familiar to follow God’s call, illustrates the power of faith in surrender. He did not know where he was going, but he trusted the One who was leading him (Hebrews 11:8).

Reflection Question: How can you strengthen your faith to better surrender to God’s will?

Recognizing God’s Timing

Giving it to God also involves trusting in His timing. We often want immediate answers, but God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels slow to us.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Trusting in God’s timing requires patience and the belief that His delays are not denials, but rather His way of orchestrating events for our ultimate good.

Reflect on times in your life when God’s timing proved to be perfect, even if it wasn’t what you expected.

Reflection Question: In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in God’s timing?

My Final Thoughts: Trusting God in All Areas of Life

In every aspect of our lives, we are called to give it to God—our marriages, our days, our children, our homes, our minds, and our friendships. Trusting God in these areas is not just a one-time decision but a daily practice of surrender. As we do this, we find that His peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Messiah (Philippians 4:7).

May you be encouraged to trust God more deeply today, knowing that He cares for every detail of your life. If you would like to delve deeper into this practice of surrender, I invite you to get our free devotional eBook titled “Surrender – A 30 Day Devotional for Seeking God’s Direction” below. May it bless you as you continue to walk in faith.

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Get your FREE Surrender 30 Day Devotional to Seek God for Direction below!

Tree of Life (TLV) – Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society.  Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.

Tanakh: a New Translation of the Holy Scriptures According to the Traditional Hebrew Text. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1985

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