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“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”
— Ephesians 5:22–24 (KJV)
Let’s be honest. Submission is one of those words that can make us tighten up a little. We’re not always sure what it means—and we’re definitely not sure we like how it sounds.
For a long time, I wouldn’t have said I had an issue with submission. But as I’ve grown in the Lord, I’ve started to see how often I ask for His will while trying to hang on to mine.
A Real Story from My Life
I want to take you back to a moment where this became very real.
We were in the middle of the adoption process for our daughter. I remember one day going out to my front porch, pouring my heart out to God, telling Him I trusted Him completely. I said, “Lord, your will be done. I give this all to You.”
And I meant it.
But before I even got up off my knees, I found myself mentally planning what I was going to do next. I even picked up my phone and started making some calls—trying to “fix” things myself. I didn’t do it because I didn’t trust God’s heart. I just wanted to help. I wanted things to move. I was tired of waiting.
That’s when the Lord gently reminded me: surrender isn’t just something we say at the altar or in a prayer. It’s something we choose again and again—even when it’s uncomfortable.
Where Control Creeps In
Submission doesn’t just show up in the big, dramatic moments. It shows up in the small decisions too. It’s in the way we say we’re trusting God… but we’re still trying to control the outcome. It’s in how we pray for His will… but we already have a backup plan just in case He doesn’t move fast enough. It’s in how we try to fix things for our family, our kids, or even our church… all while carrying burdens He never meant for us to carry.
Sometimes we’re not rebelling—we’re just scared to let go.
An Example We Can Follow
I often think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42
Even Jesus—fully God and fully man—brought His request to the Father. But He didn’t stop there. He surrendered. He laid down His comfort. His timing. His right to avoid suffering.
And if He can do that in the face of the cross… surely I can do it in the face of uncertainty.
Practicing Submission in the Day-to-Day
Let’s take the mystery out of it. Submission doesn’t mean you stop thinking, speaking, or feeling. It means you trust God more than you trust your own plans.
It might look like:
• Letting go of the need to fix every situation
• Holding back a strong opinion and asking God what to say instead
• Saying “yes” to something God is leading you to do—especially when it costs you comfort
• Choosing to wait, even when you could push your way through
• Asking God to lead, and then actually letting Him
Real submission often looks like quiet obedience. It’s not loud or flashy—but it’s holy. And God honors it.
Reflection Questions
• Is there something in my life I’ve “given to God” but keep picking back up?
• What’s one area where I tend to rely more on myself than the Lord?
• Am I trusting God’s will—or just hoping He’ll go along with mine?
Next Week: Worship
We’ll talk about what it means to worship in spirit and in truth—not just in song, but in how we live. Because worship isn’t just for Sundays—it’s a posture of the heart that changes everything.