“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
I would be lying if I said that once God got me away from the abuse physically that all wounds were healed and I was ready to find that special someone He had planned for my life. It took a great Christian counselor and many years of replacing the lies I had believed with God’s truths.
In the meantime, God restores that which is lost when we seek His way. My sister, who was an essential part of helping me break free from the abuse, later introduced me to an amazing guy through one of her coworkers. We were set up on a “blind” date that she and her husband and his best friend joined us on. Because I trusted her, I was able to trust him… and a great friendship developed. I’ve joked before that in the beginning it was as though I was dating Bill and his best friend because the three of us were inseparable. It was a great time for me to see what a healthy relationship looks like and I enjoyed watching Bill with his family. He treated them with respect and his mother with love.
So when I say that Biblical submission brings freedom, I speak from the wisdom of having experienced both what Biblical submission is… and what it is not. I’m not putting my husband on a pedestal. He isn’t perfect but thank goodness because neither am I! However, I do have the utmost trust in him, though, because I know that whatever decisions he makes, he does out of love for our family.
I guess I could say that I’m a little happy I had to struggle with submitting a few weeks ago because it shows me two things. That spunk that I used to have but was “abused” out of me is now back to an extent. I’m breaking free from the lies I allowed the enemy to pour into me for years. However, more importantly, I’m glad that spunk is coming back because it forced me to answer God’s question of: “Are you going to do it My way or continue to try it your way?”
I want to do it God’s way… all the way. God calls us, as Christian women, to Biblically submit to our husbands regardless of where they are spiritually. God doesn’t call us to continue in a life of abuse and if that is where you find yourself, please seek out a godly church and ask for help. I’m not qualified to help you break free but there are many professionals out there with the skills and resources that can help.
But, if you aren’t in an abusive relationship, you just don’t trust your husband, want to let him be in control, or whatever the issue… I can speak truthfully that Biblical submission brings freedom… a freedom that won’t be there if you continue to want to hold onto some of the control. God doesn’t give us commands in the Bible to restrict us… rather they are there to give us life more abundantly. For me and my house, I don’t want it any other way.
© Cheri Swalwell 2016