I Give Up OBS Week 3 — Giving In and Up

There’s nothing natural about surrender. And, there’s not one of us that in our flesh nature loves to give away the things that we consider to be ours… When it comes to surrender, it’s just plain hard. ~ Laura Story

So that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. — John 14:31

Hi there, friends! Welcome to week three of the I Give Up Online Bible Study with the one and only Laura Story!

This week we’re studying the seven most important words for believers to live by — Not my will, but Yours be done. Easy words to say; incredibly challenging and painful to live out.

Throughout the Gospel, we hear time and time again Jesus’ words of surrender to the will and plans and desires of His Father. ~ Laura

I video chatted with my favorite cousin just a few days ago. Not only is he quirky, fun, and funny like nobody else in the world, he’s a smartypants Bible dude, and a safe person to get into deep and challenging theological conversations with about the Gospel, what we believe, and why. When I told him about some of the struggles I’m wrestling with God about right now and he shared some of what he’s going through (lots of tears, my friends), he said the most devastating and yet at the same time encouraging thing:

“The difficulties you are facing, the suffering I am in… Are. Normal. For the believer who wants to make an impact for the Kingdom of God, who’s sold out for Jesus and staking the flag in Thy Will Be Done territory, it’s normal.”

Gah! But, he is right. Living a Jesus-ward life is a guarantee that we will have to surrender in ways we never imagined. It’s painful, it’s scary, it may feel unfair, and it may even feel like evil wins! But, that’s exactly what Jesus went through. And, God had His back in ways that no one who was watching could see at the time.

It only looked like evil won.

If anyone was concerned about the protection and well-being of Jesus, it was His Father. ~ Laura

And, it’s the same for us. We believers are His loved children. To be a Jesus-follower and grow to be more like Him every day, it comes down to this:

1. Our God, our Abba, is good and He loves us more than we can comprehend.
2. His ways are not our ways and He knows what we do not know. His end game is unbelievably redemptive and beautiful!
3. The only place to land is “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Surrender to Him.

Hard. But sanctifying. Surrender. God has our backs ways that no one who is watching can see right now. Redemption, restoration, and beauty are coming! So…

Lord, not my will, but Yours be done.

This week in your study:

1. Watch the video for session three on our study home page… Take notes in your study guide on pages 45-48.
2. Go through the study questions with your group or on your own on pages 49-53.
3. Read I Give Up, Chapters 7-9.
4. Grab your Bible and enjoy your personal study this week on pages 54-59.
5. Join the conversations about the study after the videos, and get to know fellow participants in the private Facebook group!

Scriptures this Week

John 6:38
John 14:31
John 5:19
Luke 22:42
John 3:30

Prayer for the Week

Abba, we adore You. You see everything that we are battling right now. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without Your awareness (Matthew 10:29). We know that You are a God of compassion and empathy and that You are at work in ways we cannot see. You have plans that will blow our minds with Your beauty and redemption. So, we trust You and we say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” We love You, Jesus. Amen.