EVERWEST DEVOTIONAL #4 | Surrender

Scripture

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” – 1 John 5:14–15 (NIV)

Reflection

One of the greatest promises in Scripture is that God not only hears our prayers but answers them when we ask according to His will. That truth has come alive for me repeatedly during this Everwest journey.

From the very beginning, this journey has been marked by God calling me into something I have absolutely no experience in. I have no background in e-commerce, no formal education in supply chain or design, and certainly no understanding of leather goods. By every natural measure, I’m not qualified. But that’s exactly where God has met me. Again and again, when I’ve felt stuck, inadequate, or completely underprepared, He has stepped in and made a way. Each time I’ve laid my limitations at His feet, He has supplied wisdom I didn’t have, opportunities I couldn’t create, and clarity I couldn’t manufacture on my own.

One of the most recent examples of this was while working on the interior fabric for the Everwest gear. I had spent months chasing the “perfect” design, pattern, and texture. Ordering hundreds of samples, testing colors, seeking feedback. But everything fell short. Some designs were too bold, others too plain. The quality wasn’t right, or the look didn’t fit. By the time I reached my deadline, I was at my breaking point.

In that frustration, I finally let go and prayed: “Lord, You called me to this journey. This is Your company, not mine. I humble myself before You and put this into Your hands. Show me a fabric that’s suitable to You.”

Not two minutes later, a few cousins from Canada that were visiting town walked into the office. One of them, who I’d only met one other time and didn’t know anything about Everwest, asked about the fabric swatches scattered across my desk. After listening, to my struggles she said, “I hope you don’t mind if I intrude but I really feel the need to share some thoughts I have on the fabric.” She explained her vision, and immediately I knew, it was exactly what I had been searching for.

In that moment, God reminded me of something deeper: He hears, and He answers, but His answers often begin with our surrender. We must humble ourselves and recognize that everything good flows only through Him. Too often, we take on responsibilities that were never ours to carry. We strive, worry, and exhaust ourselves trying to make things happen, when all along, God is saying, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still” - Exodus 14:14 (NIV).

That day in my office, I had to get out of the way. I had to admit that I couldn’t figure it out on my own, that the fabric wasn’t mine to perfect, and that Everwest itself isn’t mine to control. The moment I released it and completely laid it at His feet, He moved. Not an hour later. Not a day later. Within minutes.

We serve an on-time God. He may allow us to wrestle with frustration or confusion, not to punish us, but to see how we’ll respond. Will we cling tighter and try to fix it ourselves, or will we humble ourselves, hand it over, and trust His timing? Looking back, I believe He let me struggle with that fabric just long enough to test my heart, to see whether I’d continue carrying the weight myself or finally let Him take it. And when I did, He showed up exactly when He intended to, in a way that made it unmistakably clear: the glory was His alone.

Application

• Is there an area in your life where you're striving but not surrendering?
• What would it look like to truly hand that situation over to God in prayer?
• Do you trust that He not only hears you but is already at work on the answer?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that we can approach You with confidence, knowing You hear us. Teach us to surrender fully, to pray in line with Your will, and to trust that You will provide the right answer in the right time. Use our prayers to align our hearts with Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If there’s someone in your life who might be encouraged by this, or future devotionals, please share it with them or subscribe them here. You can also find past devotionals here.

- Jake Bunz, Founder

PRODUCT LAUNCH COMING SOON