Submission

 

Unfortunately, I do not become a submissive wife simply by putting a ring on my finger. I am learning that submissiveness is something that I will learn more and more each day and is not a quality that develops overnight. Paul, so far (it's been a little over 3 weeks) has been an amazing husband. Very attentive, caring and is a great leader. However, even though he is a wonderful, god-fearing man, I can still have a hard time submitting. "Deep belief and complete trust in Jesus to sustain a wife makes submission to even the most difficult man possible" (Smidt). Now I am not suggesting that Paul is the 'most difficult man' but I have found that it is much more possible to respect him and submit to him on days when I truly am trusting in Jesus. I need to offer my husband the same grace that I have received in my deepest time of need. The biggest help to submission is waking up daily and determining to die to myself so that I may live for Christ. I am dependent on his righteousness alone and as Paul puts it in Philippians, "it is we who serve God by His spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus and we who put no confidence in the flesh..."

Honestly, the biggest hindrance to full submission to my husband is fear.

"A fearful woman will have a very hard time submitting to her husband. A fearful woman isn’t actively trusting God with her life, which makes entrusting a man with your future nearly impossible. Submission to Christ frees a woman from fear as she rests in God’s character and provision for her, delivered through her husband" (Smidt). Like Peter, I tend to doubt. So quickly I let fear and doubt take over and begin to sink. After reading the article by Jennifer Smidt, I realize how closely related my trust on the Lord is to the quality of my relationship with my husband. Unless, I am first wholly submitted to the Lord, I cannot submit myself to my husband. My prayer and goal is to be more wholly submitted and dependent on the Lord so that I can be submitted and respectful of my husband every day. Praise God for his abundant grace and patience for me as I work out what his word says about marriage. 

Smidt, Jennifer. 10 Things Submission is Not. http://theresurgence.com/2011/05/16/10-things-submission-is-not