A Planner’s Journey With Surrender
“We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can—namely, surrender our will and fulfill God’s will in us” (St. Teresa of Ávila).
Editor’s note: This Advent, the Catholic Women in Business team is exploring the many ways God calls us to cooperate with his will and how we can proclaim our own “fiat.” Join our writers as they share their personal and professional experiences, lessons learned, and reflections from Scripture and the saints on discernment, trust, and surrender. Read more here.
Fiat: “Let it be done.”
This phase is such a beautiful expression of Mary’s complete surrender and abandonment to God and his will. I am struck when I read the account of the Annunciation by just how much Mary is giving up and, at the same time, just how much God is giving to her. He entrusts her with his Son, the savior of the world, but also asks her to be willing to give up everything to help bring Jesus to us.
Usually, you hear from me about finances and money, and there is a place for our fiat in these areas (as I have written about before). This month, as we dive into Advent, I want to shift my focus a bit and reflect on my struggle to surrender.
The Desire for Control
“May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:28).
I often struggle with these words. I am a planner. I like to be in control. Every day, I must remind myself that “when man plans, God laughs.” It’s the story of my life—and I am so grateful. My plans for my life pale in comparison to God’s.
Still, I want a plan and vision for the future. A plan creates order and relieves stress, especially when life is hectic. Planning and long-term goals help me persevere and see beyond daily trials. I wrestle all the time with the juxtaposition of planning and surrendering to God. My spiritual director has told me to remember that God created me and my tendencies. He knows them and loves them. They are not bad; we need planners and organizers in the world, or chaos might ensue. The real question is: Am I willing to surrender my plans to God’s plans when he asks me to?
Deep down, I do desire to surrender and let God lead me. Sure, there are times that pride sneaks in and says, “I can do it better. Things must be done the way I want, because my way is the best way.” Is it really? Of course not! God’s way—God’s will—is always best. I know this in my head from experience; my heart is beginning to catch up and know it, too.
“Thy Will Be Done”
I have been married for 10 years. During that time, I have had six different jobs in four different industries, been pregnant five times (four kids on earth and two with Jesus), and moved four times. Looking back, I can see that God’s hand has been in all of it. I often did not know how or why at the time, but all of it was part of his plan. Some things we will not understand until we are in heaven, but every time we surrender and say, “Yes, Lord, may your will be done,” he helps us learn, grow, mature, and serve him.
I am not good at giving up control, but I do try to end my petitions in prayer with, “If it is your will, may it be done, and if not, you know what is best. May your will be done.” My stories of learning to trust and surrender are many and long. From discerning my vocation to miscarriages to a COVID twin pregnancy to leaving jobs I loved, God has shown me how to say “yes” to his will, how to surrender, and how to let him lead (albeit a bit reluctantly at times!).
Financial Fiats
As I think about fiats, trust, and surrender, I cannot help but think about personal finance. I believe we should let God direct our budget and guide all our financial decisions. Listening to God’s will for our wallets is not always easy, but it is what is asked of us, as Christians. Interestingly, the virtues needed to give our fiat to God are similar to the most common pieces of advice regarding investing:
Start early.
Invest for the long term.
Do not try to time the market; rather, weather the storms.
Diversify your portfolio.
If an investor is patient, diversified, trusting, and willing to preserve through tough down markets, she has set herself for financial success. The same is true spiritually: If we trust God, patiently persevere through suffering and trials, diversify our spiritual resources and tool kits, and surrender to his will, we will be rewarded as good and faithful servants at the end of our life.
With God’s help and mercy, hopefully, we will be blessed with the eternal treasure of heaven. As we grow in these virtues, giving our own fiat is easier. God has a plan for our life (and our finances). Are we willing to surrender and let it be done according to his word?
Erica Mathews currently works for Financial Counseling Associates. She completed her course work for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification at the College for Financial Planning and is 6 months of experience away from completing her certification. She is passionate about helping families build their wealth so they can live out the calls God has places on their hearts. She lives in Colorado with her husband and four kids. They love everything outdoors including gardening, hiking, biking and simply exploring nature. If you would like to reach out to Erica, her email is erica@fca-inc.com.