sur·​ren·​der | \ sə-ˈren-dər – “to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand”
— Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Earlier this year, you may recall that I sensed God giving me the word breakthrough for the year. 2020 was due to be a year of promise for Asian Access and our retiring Asian Access/Japan board chair sensed revival was on the horizon: breakthrough.

Interestingly enough, my wife Silk sensed her word for the year was surrender. I thought, “How in the world do those two words—breakthrough and surrender—fit together?”

Earlier this month, it all dawned on me. I was preparing for our monthly digital prayer session as an Asian Access community and it struck me that Jesus had to surrender before the resurrection! To me, that was a powerful ‘aha’ moment. Before he was crucified, Jesus said:

"Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
— Mark 14:35-36

Jesus himself surrendered to God the father and that surrender is part of what led to a breakthrough. And, it struck me that 2020, at least for Silk and me, is a year of surrender and breakthrough. As I shared this with our prayer group, my colleague Herman Moldez posted: 

Breakthrough comes through surrender to the painful process of brokenness.

Wow, that was profound to me. Knowing the Jesus surrendered and in his brokenness for us on the cross sin was defeated and breakthrough occurred: the resurrection was just around the corner!

What inspired me to share this message with our team is that just a few days prior, Pastor Takita from our Japan board shared about a difficult circumstance he faced in his church and community. He faced the loss of a young man during COVID-19 who was battling depression and suicide. It was so discouraging to him. But, as he was reflecting on the Lord’s word, he was reminded and shared with us this devotional passage:

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
—Psalm 30:5

For me, 2020 is a year of surrender. Yet, through it all, I’m convinced the Lord will bring us to a place of breakthrough. So, I surrender! What about you? Is there anything you need to surrender?

And, I’m praying for a breakthrough!

• A breakthrough with the coronavirus
• A breakthrough for this global health pandemic which has struck many of my colleagues hard
• A breakthrough for the economic fallout that has affected so many of my colleagues and friends
• A breakthrough for all of us, whatever trials we must be facing

I hope you’ll join me in surrender and in praying for a breakthrough!

To close our prayer time, Silk shared this powerful song… I trust you enjoy it!

You Have My Surrender (Lauren Daigle)

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1mTYIKx4wc

For surrender that leads to breakthrough,

Rev. Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D.
President

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
@jwhandley
@jwhandley 

More Information

• Image credits:
  • cover image courtesy Productive Flourishing
  • breakthrough photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash
• Reflection: breakthrough (Joe Handley)
• Reflection: Sacred hope in the midst of crisis (Rev. Dr. Paul Ariga)