Spiritual Surrender as the Antidote to Unhappiness

Letting Go, Letting God, and Growing with “A Course in Miracles”

One of the most memorable and thought-provoking lines in A Course in Miracles comes from chapter 3.

“The issue of authority is really a question of authorship. When you have an authority problem, it is always because you believe you are the author of yourself and project your delusion onto others. You then perceive the situation as one in which others are literally fighting you for your authorship.” (ACIM, T-3.VI.8:1-3)

What does authorship mean here? It can suggest the idea that we are in charge of ourselves. It could mean that we, on our own, know what’s best for us. It could suggest that we believe we are in control of our lives, our destiny, the world, and everything else. In many ways, “authorship” implies “I can do what I need to do and what I want to do on my own.”

Such a sentiment could presuppose that God is not part of the equation, God is excluded, or God is not needed.

When we do this, we engage in a battle or power struggle for control. Control over others. Control over the events of the world. Control over our predilections, our desires, our interests…essentially, it is a seeking of control over everything and anything.

From this mind frame, we approach relationships and circumstances as an attack on ourselves or an attempt to be controlled or have control taken away from us.

This is the authorship problem. The issue is that we believe we are in full control (of ourselves and others). The Course argues the authority problem stems from the belief that we are separate and apart from God and we can do whatever we choose to do, isolated from God.

Our authorship does not come from ourselves. We did not create ourselves. We are not in control of everything. When we believe we created ourselves, we fall into the delusion that we are separate from God. When we believe we control everything, we deny the power of God to act through us.

Our authorship comes from God. The Course relates that we are an extension of God, at one with God always and forever. Believing we are apart from God is analogous to a wave, thinking it is separate from the ocean, or a ray of light, believing it is separate from the sun. We can deny our connection with God, but we cannot destroy it.

When we let go of the need to control, we can surrender to God and allow the love and grace of God to work through us. This means we engage in loving thought and act in this world in accord with the thoughts that God would have us think. The results of our actions and the outcomes of the circumstances and events can be brought to God, and we can let go and allow God to take care of whatever happens. Rather than trying to control the outcomes of everything, we can focus on ourselves and what we say and do.

When we rest in loving thought and action, when we surrender our will to the will of God, we can let go of worry. We don’t need to obsess over what will happen or how it will happen. We focus and attend to ourselves, our words, and our actions. We leave the rest up to God, to the universe, the power of something beyond ourselves.

Surrender may sound scary. We live in a culture that prizes power and control of the lives of others, circumstances, and everything else. Surrender means being willing to not know the results or the end product. We don't need to worry when we ground ourselves in God and recognize that God created us. We can rest firmly and comfortably in the surety of ourselves at one with God and allow the outcomes of that with which we engage to unfold in ways we may have never dreamed of.

Spiritual surrender involves letting go of our ego which drives our human desires and compels us to grasp for control.

Spiritual surrender requires patience and commitment, and we can approach it gradually, taking it one day at a time. This process invites us to reflect on our inner motivations and recognize the moments when our desire for control over situations creates unnecessary stress and conflict.

By consciously choosing to surrender our personal will, we open ourselves to align with a higher purpose or the will of God.

With each situation we encounter, we have a unique opportunity to release our grip on outcomes and instead trust that something greater is at work. Through this ongoing practice, we can cultivate a sense of peace and fulfillment, knowing that we are part of a larger tapestry of life where every thread has its significance.

Spiritual surrender is surrendering our unhappiness. When we do so, we feel better and are better able to respond to all of the stuff in our lives.

Prior Posts of Interest:

Remembering the Forgotten Song

10 Strategies and Tips for Learning A Course in Miracles

Solving Problems Begins at the Level of Cause, not at the Level of Effect

Gentleness as a Way of Living

Angels and A Course in Miracles

Thanks for reading, everyone, and have a great week!

A. Writer