If you were to choose a tattoo for yourself, what would it be, and where would you place it? For me, I’ve already found meaning in the two tattoos gracing my fingers. One is a King of Hearts, with a crucifix at its center—a symbol of Christ’s sovereignty and sacrifice. The other simply reads “surrender.” I know tattoos stir different convictions in people. Some see them as unfit, while others cover themselves in ink as a canvas of expression (and I can only imagine the sting!). I respect both perspectives. For me, these small markings are quiet, personal reminders—most often visible only to my own eyes.
Why “surrender”? In this life, we all yield to something—whether it’s the pull of habits like drinking or abstaining, chasing a career or stepping away from one. You know what I mean. Whatever we surrender to becomes the lens through which we see the world, shaping our attitudes and choices. And don’t we hope that what we give ourselves to will be kind, just, and worthy of our trust? The alternative—constantly wrestling with every thought, opinion, or struggle—feels like an exhausting, endless task. But what if there were something, or Someone, who could carry it all? I believe that Someone is Jesus. When I catch myself straining against the weight of the world, fighting battles on my own, I glance at that word—”surrender”—and remember: the ultimate victory is already won. I don’t need to wage new wars.
Surrender doesn’t mean giving up. Some pursuits demand hard work, persistence, and grit, and we’re called to press on. But surrender reminds me that no single struggle defines the whole of life. In the grand scope, I’ve placed it all in God’s hands. So I strive as if it all depends on me, while trusting as if it all depends on Him.


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