As in the story of the fox, who abandoned his quest for the grapes on the high branch, the person who calls it surrender or renunciation when he cannot obtain an object sought has made the prime error of assuming that he is that thought of self called nufs by the Sufis, but which is not really the true Self.
Whatever be the true cause of failure, it is due to lack of concentration and some weakness. Of course, very often ignorance leads us to believe that we might secure some unwarranted prize, which later knowledge shows is beyond our reach. In this case it was the weakness, which was the cause of ignorance.
Spiritual renunciation is of a very different character, being surrender of that which we can easily obtain; or sacrifice of something which we possess and prize; or giving away something we have earned at great cost; or abandoning the fruits of action for some higher ideal. This is the true renunciation, the real spiritual sacrifice.