Serendipitous Surrender

By Lisa Livezey

It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you.
— Deuteronomy 31:8 (RSVCE)

I slipped into the quiet Adoration Chapel, seeking blessed respite from the frenzied pace which now characterized my days. Tucked among the prayer cards in my Bible were some papers which, when unfolded, brought back a sudden memory. These had been handed to me in this very chapel by an older woman who often prayed there. It had been a month ago when she approached me as just the two of us were sitting in the chapel. Holding out some papers, she had whispered, “I feel like you’re supposed to have these.”

I accepted them with a quiet, “Thank you,” honored that this prayer warrior had singled me out. The title read Novena of Surrender to the Will of God and was followed by nine daily prayers, each ending with the words: “Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Please take care of everything.” I began the first prayer immediately and planned to continue for the next eight days.

(“The Surrender Novena” was handed to the author days before her father’s unexpected passing.)

When the weekend arrived, I forgot all about the Surrender Novena. Then came Monday afternoon—and then Dad was rushed to the hospital—and then he died—and then I became responsible for Mom.

In rediscovering these papers, I realized that the Holy Spirit had nudged this holy woman, causing her to give me the Surrender Novena just days before my life was about to radically change.

Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Please take care of everything.

Reflect: Focus on the Lord and purposefully repeat the above prayer ten times. If able, search online for the Novena of Surrender to the Will of God (Author: Father Don Dolindo Ruotolo 1882-1970) and pray it for the next nine days.

The above selection is Entry #12 in Part II: Weathering Winter of Minding Mom: A Caregiver’s Devotional Story by Lisa Livezey (© 2024, En Route Books and Media)

Minding Mom: A Caregiver’s Devotional Story by Lisa Livezey | En Route Books and Media