Submission

The Lord has been teaching me a great deal about submission over the past few years. I still don't know exactly what submission looks like in every situation, but God has graciously led me to appreciate submission as one of His commands.

And...I even like it sometimes.

There. I said it.

Let me give you an example.

I heard this sermon a year ago that was discussing submisison as it applies to marriage. The pastor made a point I had never even considered. In his marriage, he said most of the situations where his wife has struggled to submit is when he is trying to take care of her! He will tell her to go shopping when she feels bad spending the money, or he'll tell her to go take a nap when she's sick while he watches the kids. She is reluctant, but she does it- because she trusts him.

Isn't it the same with God? I trust Him, and need to listen to what He asks of me! Sometimes it is to share the Gospel, sometime it is to participate in ministry that may not be comfortable for me; but sometimes it is to rest. Sometimes it is to take a break and just enjoy Him.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he guides me by still waters..." (Psalm 23:2). When I was sick with bronchitis, I saw this verse in a whole new light. I HATE to rest. I'm really bad at it. I don't want to miss work, and when I'm lying around the house, I feel so lazy! So I clean, I organize, intermittent with lying down a bit. But it is really hard for me to just be still. But when I was sick, God caused me to be still. Think I'm joking? He cancelled 3 early morning plans, and multiple afternoon appointments. And guess what? I started to get better. He forced me to rest, but it was for my good.

More recently, I got in a small car accident. A girl rear-ended me while I was visiting Birmingham. Long story short, I need to go to the doctor, but no report has been filed from the accident, which means no insurance. In the process of following the police officer's instructions and attempting to file a report, I was told that I would need to drive back to Birmingham to file a report in person. The officer gave me the wrong advice, the girl is not answering/responding to my calls, and I'm stuck with a very stiff back in the meantime.

Of course, I want to remain independent, so I try to handle things myself. My mom called this morning and said that her and my dad insisted that they get involved. Police just respond differently to adults, you know?

And boy, am I thankful! Apparently, I CAN file a report over the phone, and don't need to drive all the way to Alabama after all! So helpful!

My point is simple: when submission is done the way it was Biblically intended- to a Godly authority that loves you and has your best interest in mind- it is not as bad as we make it out to be. It is easy for me to submit when I trust the authority I am submitting to. Sometimes, it is even needed.