Day 6 – Understanding Submission

“𝘞𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥.” 𝘌𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 5:22 and “𝘞𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥.” 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 3:18, 𝘒𝘑𝘝

Submission is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯. No one naturally desires to be submissive because it goes against our fleshly nature. We want to be in control of ourselves and our lives, and in every situation, we tend to want to do things on our own terms without interference from others.

In marriage, ideally, both partners pull in the same direction. However, due to issues of control and submission, sometimes spouses pull in different directions, which can cause tension and discord. Choosing a husband is one of the most important decisions you will make, because Scripture emphasizes that wives are to submit to their husbands, even if he is not a Christian. This truth can feel challenging, but it is part of God’s design for unity in marriage.

Pray: Lord, help me to understand my role as a submissive wife and to submit to my husband out of love for You. Teach me to trust Your design for marriage and to walk in humility and grace. Amen. ©

Marie Swanepoel