He has brought his alligator to the beach…
It is inflatable…
And big.
Big enough to float the whole family.
He throws it into the water…
The family swims to it…
Laughing and kicking and splashing…
Down the beach another family has brought their alligator…
But it is an alligator of a different sort…
The mother and father stand apart from the kids…
Facing each other…
Hands on their hips…
Heads leaning in as they speak angry words…
Their lips moving urgently…
Simultaneously.
Suddenly they both fall silent…
She looks down and turns away…
Staring out across the endless water.
Is it the spray from the waves that she wipes away?
Or is it a tear?
Their alligator is metaphorical…
And big…
Big enough to submerge the whole family.
We all have alligators…
Our alligators go with us wherever we go…
But so does God…
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Will we surrender our alligators to God ?
Surrender our anxiety to Him?
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Surrender our fear to Him?
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Surrender our suffering to Him?
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
Will we surrender our very lives to Him, until we can say…
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
For once we surrender our alligators to God …
Once we surrender our lives to Him…
We will receive in return…
His true peace…
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
2 thoughts on “Surrender Our Alligators to God”
Very good Know this to be true in my head but my heart is having a very hard time catching up.
I am so often the same way… My heart knows what to do, but…