Facing physical challenges, Barnett surrenders to God
Over the past several weeks, I’ve been facing a series of health challenges that have forced me to slow down and reflect in ways I hadn’t expected. Physical discomfort has a way of making you sit still, and anxiety often tries to creep in during those quiet, uncertain moments.
But through all of this, something has become incredibly clear to me: when you’re going through anything — whether it’s a physical ailment, emotional stress, or heaviness in your spirit — it is essential to trust in the Lord. That’s not just a phrase or a hopeful idea. It is a truth that changes the atmosphere around you and within you.
I’ve learned that trusting God is not passive. It’s not simply saying a quick prayer and hoping things work out. Trust is active. It’s choosing, day after day, to believe that God is who He says He is. It’s deciding that His strength is greater than the weakness you feel. It’s resting in the understanding that His plan stretches far beyond what your eyes can see in the moment.
Throughout my life, I can think of countless times when I tried to rely on myself to push through difficult seasons. I tried to adjust, to fix things, to power through on my own. But when the burden rested on my shoulders alone, the weight only grew heavier. That kind of self-dependence is exhausting. It’s also limiting, because we can only see our situation from where we stand. God sees the whole path; where we’ve been, where we are, and where He is leading us.
During these recent health struggles, I realized that surrender does not mean giving up. Surrender means giving it over. It means allowing God to take the lead and trusting that His peace will carry you even when your body feels weak or your mind feels overwhelmed. And I’ve experienced that peace—slowly, steadily—filling the spaces where fear used to sit.
The truth is this: when you trust in the Lord, things begin to change. Sometimes the change happens inside you before it happens around you. Sometimes the healing is spiritual before it is physical. But God moves. He strengthens. He comforts. He leads.
I’m still walking through this season, but I’m no longer walking in my own strength. I’m walking with the One who heals, restores, and carries every burden. And that has made all the difference.