Now She’s Doing her Part - Part 1 (episode 279-1)
What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t a lack of faith — but a lack of surrender?
In this inspiring conversation, Carroll Patrizi shares how learning to let go of control, and truly trust God, transformed her confidence, her marriage, and her purpose.
She dives deep into the power of the subconscious, how past experiences shape our fears, and how accountability in faith can break the cycle of self-doubt. If you’ve been craving a fresh start or wondering what it means to really put God first, this episode will remind you that confidence grows where surrender begins.
Carroll is our guest this week for Spicy Christian Women - Becoming All that and a Bag of Chips. This is part one.
You can find Carroll at Carroll Patrizi.
Faithful. Encourager. Joyful.
— Carroll Patrizi
There’s Nothing Better
Thoughts from Now She’s Doing her Part - Part 1
Surrender. Ah, what a great topic. I like how Carroll explains being stuck isn’t a lack of faith but a lack of surrender. What an impactful thought. So as I ponder this I am wondering where in my life I have surrendered well, and where in my life I need to continue to release, release more. And what exactly does surrender look like? Can it be identified?
Let’s start with the ‘wins’
When our son was diagnosed with a heart defect in utero, when he died, when we were still living and breathing, check, check, check. We did surrender well. (See Standing Tall: A Collection of Hope for the complete story.)
When I quit my teaching job (long story, an untenable situation) and wasn’t sure what was next. Remember I prayed for a job in education and theater, part-time. I surrendered to the unknown and what the next chapter held was one of the best experiences of my life that was far beyond what I had prayed for.
When Ron and I went through the adoption process hoops (there were so many!) and a few years had gone by. Oh well, it doesn’t look like we’ll be gifted in that way. That’s okay, we have peace about it. To getting the phone call, seemingly out of nowhere, that there was a baby girl for us, brown hair and brown eyes, born on Ron’s birthday. This had been a surrender.
Now onto the ‘non-wins’
I don’t really want to call them ‘losses’ because we learn so much when things don’t go the way we want them to.
When I kept trying to make a relationship work that wasn’t working. (We would not have been a good fit in the long haul.) But how I tried. I did not want to surrender and I didn’t for years. Square peg into round hole. It will fit! I will keep hammering until it does. But it didn’t and it took too long for me to come to that conclusion. I hadn’t surrendered.
When Ron and I bicker and I get on my prideful high horse and won’t back down. I won’t surrender. Of course after many years of being married this happens so much less, thankfully. My high horse is rusting and stored in the garage to be forgotten about for a long time.
When you are starting a new venture and you want quick results. Why aren’t things happening the way I want? I’m putting the work in. Turns out this one is a patience thing like so many of them are, and intellectually I know God’s timing is best but still. Sometimes I am impatient. I haven’t surrendered - not fully.
Maybe surrender comes in degrees.
How do we begin to surrender?
Let go of control - This one is key. We think we have control when in reality we have so very little of it. Thinking we do gives us a false sense of security. Oh sure you have things you can do, and not do, but in the big picture, there’s tons that is out of your control.
Trust in God - Isn’t he the one who knows you better than you know yourself? And isn’t he the one who loves you better than anyone else? If you understand the answer to both is ‘yes’ then you are on your way. Let him do what only he can do. You will be glad you did.
Live with gratitude - I found myself heading down ‘complain way’ and I stopped myself to say, I have food today. Not everyone does. I have access to health care. Not everyone does. I have a home. Not everyone does. It wasn’t done in arrogance but in humility. What can you be grateful for?
These are just the beginning, but don’t you think they are a great start? Surrender might sound weak on the surface but I promise you it’s anything but. It shows a level of trust. It believes with a strong faith. And it hopes with a loving heart. There is nothing better. Truly. It’s the best choice.
Surrender is the strong choice.
— There’s nothing better
