Trust, Surrender, Peace
Editor’s Note: Lay missioner Susan Sarkissian reflects on how leading a summer Bible camp has helped her grow in trust, surrender, and peace.
Trusting in the Lord is a vital part of my life as a missioner. Yet sometimes my actions don’t demonstrate that trust. I go on autopilot and just start fixing things or mapping out a plan, forgetting that my role is accompaniment and not “woman who has all the answers.” When plans go amuck, I can become quite anxious.
Back in early July, I was asked to plan and run a summer Bible camp for the St. Anne’s community. I was initially given a two week head start to put something together, when all of sudden, I was told that the camp was to start the next day. Sr. Saane (a Marist Sister) and I would be the leads, and, because I was in a complete panic, she graciously took the first day.
Week one went relatively well, but not so for week two. On the day I was leading, I could not get the children’s attention or cooperation. They seemed completely disinterested in what I was presenting or having them do. I literally froze in front of them and looked at Sr Saane, and she took over the instruction. I went to a corner and sulked about my failure. Yet as I watched Sr. Saane, I was struck by her joy in leading the children. It was at that moment that I remembered to turn to the Lord with trust, and so somehow I let go of my self-pity and walked back to the group and joined in the song and dance that Sr. Saane was teaching. My anxiety turned into peace and playful delight as the children and I pranced about and sang off-key. The remaining days of our chaotic program turned into a lot of fun for all.
This was the first time ever that I made a clear connection between trust and surrender. One is the belief, and the other is the action. Sometimes I say that I trust in the Lord, but I hold onto control, and as I said before, when things go wrong, I feel pretty awful. In this incident, I let go of control. It was surrender that brought about a spirit of peace.
In my April 2026 blog, I wrote about a time when I was heading out to my ministry work, when I encountered a friend who had just lost a loved one. I gave up my plans and spent the afternoon with her. There was serenity in that encounter, and it came after I surrendered control and trusted in the Lord to lead me.
Trust, surrender, peace. I think I am finally understanding, and I give thanks and praise to my Lord, for his patient and loving instruction. May we always walk in His ways and follow His will.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Editor’s Note: How is God inviting you to grow in trust, surrender, or peace during this season?
Susan shares the following pictures from Bible camp:
