Where Surrender Meets Resurrection

Pastor Michelle Thomas
Jul 30
2 min read

Walking the Path from Crushing to Calling

We often think surrender means giving up, letting go, or losing out. But what if surrender is the very place where resurrection begins?

In Chapter 11 of Prophetic Pathways, we’re reminded that surrender isn’t the end of the story—it’s the setup for God’s greatest work. And there’s no better example of this truth than Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Gethsemane: The Place of Crushing

Just hours before the crucifixion, Jesus went to Gethsemane—a quiet grove of olive trees at the base of the Mount of Olives. The name Gethsemane literally means “oil press.” In ancient times, olives were crushed to extract their precious oil. That crushing is a powerful metaphor for what Jesus endured.

In that garden, Jesus faced the weight of His assignment. He felt sorrow, anguish, and spiritual heaviness. He cried out to the Father:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

This was the ultimate moment of surrender—not to pain, but to purpose. Jesus didn’t surrender to death; He surrendered to destiny.

Surrender Isn't Weakness—It’s Warfare

Jesus had already worked miracles—healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding thousands, and raising the dead. But the miracle of the cross and resurrection started in a place of quiet surrender.

So often, we see our moments of surrender as breaking points. But heaven sees them as birthing points.

What if the area you're afraid to release is the very place God wants to resurrect?

From Garden to Glory

What followed Gethsemane was brutal: betrayal, arrest, denial, crucifixion. But after the garden came the grave—and after the grave came glory.

God raised Jesus in power, victory, and authority. And that same resurrection power is still active today—for you.

Your Gethsemane might look like:

A difficult decision
A broken relationship
A delayed promise
A season of silence

But when you lay your will at the feet of the Father, you open the door for supernatural transformation.

Reflect & Respond

Ask yourself:

What is God asking me to surrender?
Am I resisting the very pressure designed to produce purpose?
Where have I seen resurrection follow obedience?

Write out your own Gethsemane prayer: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” and watch how God brings new life from what you thought was your ending.

Declaration

“I am not dying—I’m being resurrected.”“ My surrender is not the end of the story—it’s the setup for glory.” “Though it hurts, I trust the hand of the One who holds the cup.”

Want More?

This life-giving lesson comes from Chapter 11 of Prophetic Pathways: A Journey Through Faith, Fire, and Fulfillment by Michelle Thomas. If you’re navigating delays, stretching seasons, or spiritual pressure, this book is a roadmap of hope and restoration.