“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
Remember how during Submission – Part I, I stated, “If you want to know where you stand in your relationship with your Heavenly Father, take a good look at your relationships with those you love the most here on earth?” I believe this is the true litmus test of whether or not you trust your Father, have control issues, or are truly surrendered to His ways.
Right after I made the choice to submit completely to my husband, not only did God bless our marriage, but He reaffirmed to me the choice was about more than just my relationship with my husband. It was about my relationship with Him.
Every time I hear the song Just Be Held on the radio by Casting Crowns, I can’t help but cry. At first I was wondering why God would want me to stop holding on and just be held… and then I realized just like with submitting to my husband, He wants me to fully submit to Him. He can work much better when I stop holding on, trying to control the situation or fight the situation or take care of the situation and instead let Him have complete control. When I finally realized how much easier life is when I give Him complete control and pray, with trust, that His way is the perfect way, then things start moving. Divine appointments occur. Miracles take place.
That, my friends, is where I want to be. In the middle of God’s will for my life. Just like my husband takes his job of protector very seriously in our family, asking for wisdom from our Father before making decisions, God takes the role of Protector, Provider, Healer, Redeemer and the Good Shepherd to name but a very few of His roles very seriously also. However, just like my husband doesn’t force his way on me, even though he was given all authority to do so, my Heavenly Father will not force His way on me either. He gives me a choice to willingly submit and surrender my will before taking over and working miracles in my life that He had patiently been waiting to perform as soon as I got out of the way.
Submission is not bondage. Submission is not slavery. Biblical submission is not a four-letter word in my house. Submission is freedom… peace… based on trust… God’s will for families everywhere.
I’m so thankful God loves me enough that He challenged my assumption that I was a submissive wife a few months ago. I’m so glad He loves our family enough to help me get myself out of the way so that Bill can do what he does best… lead our family with integrity, faith, and the responsibility God appointed to him. For that, I respect my husband deeply and gladly submit.
© Cheri Swalwell 2016