When life doesn’t go as planned

What do you do when life doesn’t go as planned? Where do you turn when disappointments, failures, and tragedies come your way? 

The iSurrender retreat aims to answer these questions. This retreat is not about giving up but rather giving in to receive the bounty of graces God is waiting to bestow. It is about finding a reliable God in an unreliable world to a surrender that will bring peace. 

Patti Armstrong, one of the presenters of the retreat, surrendered much to God when she lost her husband unexpectedly last year. 

“I didn’t know how I was going to go on without him,” she said. “Yet, there was a level of acceptance because I had already surrendered my life and made peace with the fact that there will be sorrow as well as joy. It was not my choice, but I was able to feel God’s care through family and friends and through our Church and the beauty of the funeral Mass and so many prayers.” 

When it comes to surrendering to God, Patti said, “It’s not like it’s a real option. We can either go willingly uniting our lives to Jesus, come what may, or we can go kicking and screaming. Only one option brings grace and holiness. By willingly, I don’t mean void of emotions, but rather by giving God our acceptance that he is in charge and we are not. It comes with the understanding that God knows best in all circumstances.” 

Another presenter, Roxane Salonen, learned about surrender just before her husband went through his first of two open-heart surgeries in 2016. During that time, Roxane was introduced to the surrender novena. The main refrain of the novena is: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!”  

“The novena has become a staple in our lives to get through the hardest situations,” said Roxane. “The more we grow in our faith, the more we have realized our dependence on God, and how this is a good thing, not something to fear. In this realization there is a freedom. But it’s not always easy to get there.” 

You can find the full novena at www.hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-the-surrender-novena. ;

“We did not know if he would make it out of either of those procedures alive,” said Roxane. “But he did, and God gave him new life. With each of those major surgeries, he learned to give over more control of his life to God, and I have seen his faith life come alive before my eyes in the years since. Traveling that vale with him, I, too, had to learn to surrender in a big way.” 

For Monica Hannan, also presenting at the retreat, she learned to surrender to the Lord through not just crises moments, but through day-to-day decisions. 

“In the past I’ve tended to try to puzzle things out on my own,” said Monica. “Take this interview, for instance. A good rule of thumb would be to say a quick prayer prior to answering these questions, asking the Holy Spirit to guide me. In the past that would not have occurred to me. By learning to surrender my life to God, even the little things take on new meaning. Now I begin my day with an offering prayer, with the intention that every moment is given over to His will. It certainly lessens anxiety and things go better.” 

The full retreat is Oct. 3–5. There is also another option for those who need a shorter time away. The weekend will include Mass, Adoration, Confession, personal stories, and delicious food, all nestled within the beautiful hills of rural Valley City. 

“I’ve learned that God honors those who show up, so attending a retreat in a beautiful place where prayer seems to happen naturally pays dividends,” said Monica. “Listening to others talk about surrender moments—and hearing compelling surrender stories—can remind us that our time here is fleeting, and if we’re willing to give our lives over to our creator, He can do amazing things with us here, even as we prepare for our next adventure in the life to come.” 

Register at www.maryvalend.org​