--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One does not surrender a life in an…" description: "\"One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime. Nor is surrender to the will of God (per se)..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/elisabeth-elliot-1209_accomplishment_one-does-not-surrender-a-life-in-an-inst_2813445.png" --- # One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is… ![“One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime. Nor is surrender to the will of God (per se) adequate to fullness of power in Christ. Maturity is the accomplishment of years, and I can only surrender to the will of God as I know what that…” quote by Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/elisabeth-elliot-1209_accomplishment_one-does-not-surrender-a-life-in-an-inst_2813445.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/elisabeth-elliot-1209_accomplishment_one-does-not-surrender-a-life-in-an-inst_2813445.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/elisabeth-elliot-1209_accomplishment_one-does-not-surrender-a-life-in-an-inst_2813445.png) > “One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime. Nor is surrender to the will of God (per se) adequate to fullness of power in Christ. Maturity is the accomplishment of years, and I can only surrender to the will of God as I know what that will is.” [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surrender to God is a lifelong process, not an instant act; maturity grows over years. **In simple terms:** Surrender to God takes time and maturity. Key Takeaway Cultivate patient, lifelong spiritual surrender. Themes faith maturity spirituality Mood reflective faithful Type spiritual theological When to use this quote - daily prayer - church community - life coaching - theological study Key Concepts theology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How does patience influence spiritual growth? - What practices support a lifelong surrender? A Different Perspective Instant surrender is unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Adequate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adequate/) [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-maturity-1127866/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Fullness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fullness/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Instant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lifelong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifelong/) [Lifelong Surrendered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifelong-surrendered-1135566/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Lifetime Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime-surrender-3537418/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Surrender Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender-life-1040894/) [Surrendered Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrendered-lifetime-1135565/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/one-does-not-surrender-a-life-in-an-instant-that-which-is-lifelong/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [In Christ we see a maturity of love that flowers in self-sacrifice and forgiveness; a maturity of power that never swerves from the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-nichols/in-christ-we-see-a-maturity-of-love-that-flowers-in-self-sacrifice/) [Vincent Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-nichols/) > [Church is the textured context in which we grow up in Christ to maturity. But church is difficult. Sooner or later, though, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/church-is-the-textured-context-in-which-we-grow-up-in-christ-to/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [A certain desperation is usually necessary before we're ready for God... Until your knees finally hit the floor, you're just playing at life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/a-certain-desperation-is-usually-necessary-before-we-re-ready-for-god/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Surrender is not a weakness it is strength.It takes tremendous strength to surrender life to the supreme - to the cosmic unfolding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/surrender-is-not-a-weakness-it-is-strength-it-takes-tremendous/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [If you surrender to life you are dead already](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baraz-chris/if-you-surrender-to-life-you-are-dead-already/) [Baraz Chris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baraz-chris/) > [“Man holds dominion and was given free will but the irony is that he must learn to surrender his will --- as life carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mcgahan/man-holds-dominion-and-was-given-free-will-but-the-irony-is-that-he/) [Kate McGahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mcgahan/) > [“Our ability to surrender in life is directly related to the amount of peace and fulfillment we experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-robbins/our-ability-to-surrender-in-life-is-directly-related-to-the-amount-of/) [Mike Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-robbins/) > [As your act of dedication in this world you must finally surrender your own life to a life of service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshad-feild/as-your-act-of-dedication-in-this-world-you-must-finally-surrender/) [Reshad Feild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshad-feild/) > [“Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of hell. The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/faithfulness-is-not-holding-the-fort-it-s-storming-the-gates-of-hell/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/jesus-didn-t-die-to-keep-us-safe-he-died-to-make-us-dangerous/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [The surrender of life is nothing to sinking down into acknowledgment of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/the-surrender-of-life-is-nothing-to-sinking-down-into-acknowledgment/) [John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/) > [From now on my heart will behold and over and over I fall, I surrender all. All of my life from now on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-belle/from-now-on-my-heart-will-behold-and-over-and-over-i-fall-i-surrender/) [Regina Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-belle/) > [Surrender to life today. Don't fight anything. Just enjoy the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/surrender-to-life-today-don-t-fight-anything-just-enjoy-the-flow/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [Here's a little irony of life. The more u surrender your life to someone. The more unattractive u become to that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/here-s-a-little-irony-of-life-the-more-u-surrender-your-life-to/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Elisabeth Elliot > [All our problems are theological ones, William Temple said. All of them have to do with our relationship to God and his to us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/all-our-problems-are-theological-ones-william-temple-said-all-of-them/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Discipline, for the Christian, begins with the body. We have only one. It is this body that is the primary material given to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/discipline-for-the-christian-begins-with-the-body-we-have-only-one-it/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [It seems disrespectful to me to see ladies in church in very short skirts or skimpy, sleeveless tops. I would imagine that it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/it-seems-disrespectful-to-me-to-see-ladies-in-church-in-very-short/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [The deepest lessons come out of the deepest waters and the hottest fires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-deepest-lessons-come-out-of-the-deepest-waters-and-the-hottest/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Everything if given to God can become your gateway to joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/everything-if-given-to-god-can-become-your-gateway-to-joy/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Lead me, Lord, to the Rock that is higher than I. Let me hear your word, give me grace to obey, to build steadily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/lead-me-lord-to-the-rock-that-is-higher-than-i-let-me-hear-your-word/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Experience had quickly taught her that she could not survive the storms without the anchor of the constraining love of Christ and what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/experience-had-quickly-taught-her-that-she-could-not-survive-the/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [The pain of loneliness is one way in which he wants to get our attention. We may be earnestly desiring to be obedient and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-pain-of-loneliness-is-one-way-in-which-he-wants-to-get-our/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“If men and women were surer of their God there would be more genuine manliness, womanliness, and godliness in the world, and a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/if-men-and-women-were-surer-of-their-god-there-would-be-more-genuine/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [I believe with all my heart God's Story has a happy ending. . . But not yet, not necessarily yet. It takes faith to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/i-believe-with-all-my-heart-god-s-story-has-a-happy-ending-but-not/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/i-do-know-that-waiting-on-god-requires-the-willingness-to-bear/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“What do women want today? What do men want? I mean, deep down. What do they really want? If ‘times’ have changed, have human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/what-do-women-want-today-what-do-men-want-i-mean-deep-down-what-do/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [God will never disappoint us… If deep in our hearts we suspect that God does not love us and cannot manage our affairs as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/god-will-never-disappoint-us-if-deep-in-our-hearts-we-suspect-that/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Muddled thinking inevitably results in muddled living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/muddled-thinking-inevitably-results-in-muddled-living/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [The world cries for men who are strong--strong in conviction, strong to lead, to stand, to suffer. I pray that you will be that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-world-cries-for-men-who-are-strong-strong-in-conviction-strong-to/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) [Explore all 273 Elisabeth Elliot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) [Anthony Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-sargent/) > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime. Nor is surrender to the will of God (per se) adequate to fullness of power in Christ. 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