Potential, Free Will, and the Sacred Path of Surrender

Potential, Free Will, and the Sacred Path of Surrender

I was raised with the belief that all lives matter, that every person carries value simply by being a child of God. It is a comforting thought, one that promises belonging and equality. It reassures us that no matter who we are or where we come from, we are loved and cherished.

Yet as I have walked deeper into spiritual understanding, I have come to see this belief in a more nuanced way. While every soul is indeed born with divine potential, not every soul lives in alignment with that potential. Some choose to use their free will to spread hatred, cruelty, or intolerance. Others surrender their will to God and allow His love to shape their lives, awakening the holy potential within them.

This realization is not meant to strip away compassion. It is not meant to divide or condemn. Instead, it is meant to remind us of the seriousness of free will, the fragility of the human heart, and the urgency of surrender.

Free Will and Potential

Potential as Divine Gift

Every soul carries the seed of divine possibility. This seed is God’s gift, planted within us at birth. It is the capacity to love, to serve, to embody compassion, and to radiate truth. Potential is universal—it belongs to everyone.

But potential is not the same as value. Potential must be awakened. It must be nurtured through surrender, humility, and devotion. Without surrender, potential remains dormant, like a seed that never breaks through the soil.

Free Will as Choice

Free will is the space in which we decide whether to awaken our potential or to let it wither. It is both gift and burden.

- When free will is surrendered to God, potential blossoms into worth.

- When free will is clung to in ego, potential is lost in hatred, cruelty, and delusion.

This is the paradox: free will can either elevate us into divine union or drag us into destruction.

Self‑Reflection, Not Judgment

Observing how others use their free will is not about judgment. It is about reflection. When we see someone misusing their free will, spreading hatred or cruelty, we are not called to elevate ourselves above them. Instead, we are reminded of how frail we are, how easily ego can lead us astray, and how urgently we must surrender our own will to God.

Judgment belongs to God alone. Our task is not to condemn but to reflect.

Lessons from Scripture

Throughout the Bible, God shows us what happens when humanity misuses free will. These stories are not written so we can judge those who perished. They are written so we can reflect on our own choices.

Noah’s Flood

In the days of Noah, humanity had become corrupt. Violence and arrogance filled the earth. People clung to their free will, using it not to serve God but to indulge in selfishness and cruelty.

God saw that the hearts of men were continually evil, and He chose to cleanse the earth. Only Noah, who walked in righteousness and surrendered to God’s will, was spared. The flood was not merely destruction—it was purification. It was God’s way of showing that free will misused leads to death, but surrender leads to salvation.

Sodom and Gomorrah

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were consumed by sin. Hatred, intolerance, and violence defined their culture. When Lot welcomed angels into his home, the people of the city sought to harm them, revealing the depth of their corruption.

God’s judgment was swift. Fire and brimstone rained down, destroying the cities. Yet Lot and his family were spared because they surrendered to God’s command.

Again, the lesson is clear: free will used for sin leads to destruction, but surrender leads to life.

The Call to Humility

Not Judgment, but Example

Just because we recognize misuse of free will does not give us the right to judge. Their behavior is between them and God. Our responsibility is to embody surrender, humility, and love, showing others the path by how we live.

Living by Example

We are called to lead by example, not by condemnation. Our lives should reflect surrender, humility, and reverence. In doing so, we show others what it means to awaken potential without ever needing to judge them.

Letting Go of Ego

Recognizing this truth is not meant to inflate our pride but to dissolve it. It reminds us that we, too, are frail, and only by surrendering can we embody true value.

Silence as Reverence

Silence is one of the most profound markers of authenticity. True surrender rarely announces itself. It does not need spectacle or validation. Silence is not absence—it is presence.

- Silence protects the bond between soul and God.

- Silence honors the mystery, allowing union to breathe in its own sacred rhythm.

- Silence communicates beyond words, reminding us that the deepest truths are felt, not spoken.

Noah did not announce his righteousness to the world; he simply lived it. Lot did not parade his obedience; he simply followed God’s command. Their silence was strength, their surrender was reverence.

Service to Humanity

When we surrender free will to God, our potential blossoms not only for ourselves but for others. True value radiates outward.

- Emotional Service: Our stability and compassion inspire others to heal.

- Creative Service: Our gifts merge with God’s guidance, producing art, teaching, or innovation that uplifts humanity.

- Spiritual Service: Our union with God embodies unconditional love, serving as a living example of peace.

- Practical Service: Our surrender stabilizes families and communities, offering clarity and grounding.

Union with God is not possession—it is offering. It is service to humanity.

Repetition for Emphasis

This truth bears repeating, because it is central to the journey:

- Not everyone lives in their value, but everyone carries potential.

- Value is awakened only through surrender.

- Free will misused leads to destruction.

- Free will surrendered leads to life.

- Judgment belongs to God; reflection belongs to us.

Modern Implications

We live in a world that glorifies free will as autonomy, independence, and self‑expression. Yet when free will is used to justify hatred, intolerance, and sin, it becomes a weapon against the soul.

The lesson of Noah and Sodom is timeless: God does not preserve those who cling to ego. He preserves those who surrender.

Conclusion: The Eternal Truth

Not everyone lives in their value, but everyone carries potential. The difference lies in surrender.

When we surrender free will to God, potential blossoms into worth. When we cling to ego, we lose sight of our divine essence.

But this truth is not ours to wield as judgment. It is ours to hold as reflection. It is a reminder that we are called to humility, to silence, to reverence. It is a call to lead by example, not by condemnation.

Value is not automatic, but potential is universal. Judgment belongs to God; reflection belongs to us. In surrender, we awaken our worth and embody the love we were created to live.