Surrender and Stay: Finding Renewal Before the Next Season

You ever notice how October feels like a slow goodbye? The air gets cooler, the evenings come quicker, and the trees start letting go one leaf at a time—like they know change is coming and they’re okay with it.
In this week’s episode of Unscripted Conversations, we’re talking about what it means to pause before the next season. To stop running, stop striving, and just surrender and stay.

A Reminder to Breathe Again

I’ll be honest—lately I’ve been holding my breath. Trying to plan ahead. Trying to keep up. Striving to make sure everything’s ready for the next season: the projects, the recipes, the content, the lists.
And somewhere in the middle of all that… I forgot to rest.
Maybe you’ve been there too—grateful but tired, blessed but burned out. This episode is for anyone who’s ready to take a breath and remember that God never asked us to hustle our way into peace.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28–30

Rest isn’t escape—it’s partnership. It’s learning to walk in the unforced rhythms of grace, letting God carry what you were never meant to hold alone.

Stillness Isn’t Stopping — It’s Strength

We live in a world that celebrates running. But stillness doesn’t mean absence—it means awareness.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

That’s not a suggestion—it’s a command. A holy pause to remember Who’s really in control.
Sometimes we fill our lives with so much noise that we can’t even hear the gentle voice trying to guide us. But when we quiet down, that’s where peace begins to grow.

Waiting Is Where Strength Grows

Isaiah 40:31 reminds us,

“Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.”

That word wait doesn’t mean doing nothing—it means binding yourself to God so tightly that when the wind comes, you bend, not break.
Y’all you can’t soar on last season’s faith. Renewal doesn’t happen in motion; it happens in surrender.
Sometimes God sits you down, not because He’s holding you back—but because He’s rebuilding your wings.

Letting Go Before What’s Next

Before we step into the next season—before the lists, the gatherings, and all the noise—God might be whispering the same thing to both of us:
“Lay it down. Stop trying to carry it all. I’ve got it.”
You don’t have to drag yesterday’s weight into tomorrow’s season, don’t have to keep performing to prove your purpose.
You just have to stay.

Stay rooted.
Stay calm.
And stay at peace knowing that even in the pause, He’s still working.

A Heartfelt Challenge for This Week

Take an hour—or even just fifteen minutes—and sit with God. No list, no plan, no agenda. Just gratitude and quiet.
Ask yourself:

• What has this season taken out of me?
• What am I still carrying that I need to lay down?
• What would it look like to simply stay?

When you finally stop striving to figure it all out, that’s where the real renewal begins.

The Final Word: Surrender and Stay

The trees don’t fight change—they let go. They don’t cling to what was; they release and rest. And even in surrender, they still shine.
Maybe that’s what God’s asking of us too.
To stop fighting the shift and trust His timing.
To believe that rest is holy and stillness is where His strength grows.

Because the same God who carried you through this year hasn’t gone anywhere.
He’s not waiting for you in the next season—He’s right here, in this one.
So before November rushes in…
surrender, breathe, and stay.

Listen to Surrender and Stay Episode:

If your heart’s been craving a little peace before the rush of the holidays, this one’s for you. You can listen right here on the embedded player below, or find Unscripted Conversations wherever you love tuning in.

Listen now on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• iHeartRadio
• Amazon Music
• or right here through the Buzzsprout player ↓

Take a few quiet minutes, grab your coffee, and let this message remind you that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do before stepping into a new season… is simply surrender and stay.

Keep Growing in Your Faith Journey

If this message spoke to your heart, I’ve got a few other posts that I think you’ll love. Each one dives deeper into slowing down, trusting God’s timing, and staying rooted when life gets busy.

• Listen to the previous episode: The Purpose Still Stands
• Explore more from the Faith Journey series
• Grab your SimplyBlessedDesignz Bible Study Planner Freebie — it’s the perfect companion for staying in the Word this season.

Pin Surrender and Stay for Later

Loved this episode? Pin it so you can come back anytime your heart needs a reminder to slow down and breathe. Sharing it helps more people find encouragement too!

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Thank you for being here, for listening, and for helping me share God’s goodness one conversation at a time.

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