4/26/2024
SubmissionSUBMISSION…
I know I’m going to get some flack for this one. I just pray that you will stick with me to the end and consider my points, but more importantly God’s word. My husband and I have completely different personalities. It’s a wonder we ever got married. I worry about everything and everyone. Too often I over analyze and over think. Time and time again I pour my heart out to my husband, and quite often he looks at me and says~ “Why do you let that stuff bother you so much? Just stop thinking about it.” (As if I have an internal on/off switch. 🙄) I often look at him in dismay. I envy that ease. I will admit that when my emotions get the best of me, his nonchalant attitude can drive me absolutely crazy. Sometimes his suggestions make me want to slap him in the face. I definitely don’t want to submit to anything he has to say in that moment. But the word of God echoes in the back of my mind… “Why take ye thought for the morrow Charisse?” And the funny thing is, when I really consider what he says, I know he is right. I just wanted my way. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not right 100% of the time, I usually am. Just kidding… sort of. 😉 Truthfully though, quite often he is right. And I need to yield. I need to listen. My heart needs to soften. I can’t allow Satan to turn something into a battle of wills, just because I want my way. Why? Because I love my husband. And because that’s what God tells me to do. God tells us in the book of Ephesians that we should submit to our fellow believers because of our awe of God and all He has done for us. I love how Paul connects the two verses on submission. It makes me think he knew a little bit about how a woman thinks. He didn’t just go straight to the woman and shout “submit!” He eases into it. He shows us how very much God loves us and all we have to be thankful for and because of that, how it should overflow to our fellow believers in submission. And as women, we can get behind that. It isn’t always easy, but we strive to support and encourage. We humbly strive to put others before ourselves.~ for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, the edifying of the body of Christ. Because if we love the Lord, we WANT to be like Christ. But then the word husband comes up. Why is that so hard for us as women? I quite often hear “No one is going to tell me what to do. I am my own boss. I am not going to obey anyone.” I am sad for those who say it. They’re missing the whole point. Here is the key: As unto the Lord. We submit to God because we love Him. We submit to our husbands out of love. It isn’t a “my way or the highway” mentality. (Yet how often do we as wives emulate this behavior?) It isn’t about them telling us what to do, and us blindly following along. It’s about mutual love, understanding and thankfulness. It’s about thinking less of ourselves and our way, and being willing to actually be one flesh and yield to the very one who is a part of us. Just like our relationship with the Lord, when we push and fight back and strive for our own ways, we are often only hurting ourselves. It is the same in our marriages. This was something very convicting to me, even though I have probably read it thousands of times. It stings. Because in my heart of hearts, I don’t always want to submit to God, or others, or my husband. Praise God that in His mercy He reminds me that the rewards are far greater than me getting my own way. Submission is a byproduct of our love. Our love for others, our love for our husbands and most importantly, our love for God. And when the love of Christ abounds in our hearts, it never seeks to win the argument, it seeks to protect the relationship. SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 4:12-13 Ephesians 5:2, 19-24, 31 Philippians 2:2-5 Matthew 6:34 Mark 10:7-9 James 4:7 Philippians 1:9, 11 Ephesians 3:19 *I understand there are women in extenuating circumstances. Situations like this may need counseling and 24/7 prayer. Seek out godly counsel and pray without ceasing. If you need a referral, please feel free to message me privately. |
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