The week leading up to my wedding to Trent, I wanted to really focus on the promises I was about to make and their meaning, so I decided to journal my thoughts about my vows and the significance of the upcoming wedding…
Elisabeth Elliot always reaches into my heart with her words. This excerpt about submission from her book Keep a Quiet Heart was no exception,
A Christian woman, then, in submission to God, recognizes the divinely assigned authority of her husband (he didn’t earn it, remember, he received it by appointment). She then sets about lending her full strength to helping him to do what he’s supposed to do, be what he’s supposed to be- her head. She’s not always trying to get her own way. She’s trying to make it easier for him to do his job. She seeks to contribute to his purpose, hot to scheme how to accomplish her own.
I have been thinking over the vows that I am preparing to recite at the wedding. I have them printed out and leaning against my bedside lamp. After reading this excerpt, I looked at that paper and these words jumped out at me, “..I will, with God’s help, submit to you…”
I am promising Trent that I will be his #1 supporter. I won’t be the one in charge of the household; he will. It is my job to “lend my full strength” in encouraging him to be my head. I am also called to encourage him to follow the Lord, Who is his ultimate Head. Trent has a hard job ahead, and I need to make that easier, not harder, for him.
I will, with God’s help, submit to you.
(Watch for the rest of the series from Theresa: Faithfulness, Always, and The Bride & Groom.)
I love the focus on encouragement. That really is the basis of submission.
It is so great to see where we are all suppose to begin our marriage. I have been married three years and sometimes it has been difficult to keep this your focus, especially in the storms. Thanks for the re-focus and may God truely bless your marriage!
I like that it includes “with God’s help.”
Marriage for me always seemed so far-off that I had developed plenty of ideas of what it should look like, but hadn’t really thought about what parts would be challenging for me personally.
My fiance and I are used to playfully arguing, and it’s hard to get used to making his sense of worth more important than my need to win an argument (even if it’s about something silly). Is it really worth it, in the end, if I have belittled him?
I’m also so used to being independent and needing to solve all manner of problems on my own…I keep going to look for solutions on the Internet, even when he’s already promised to help me.
Every once in a while, I think to myself “THIS is where you’re supposed to submit,” and I argue back, “but maybe that’s about something else and this doesn’t count?”
There is so much to learn!
Blessings on your marriage! Thank you for encouraging us single ladies and giving us a glimpse of your preparation!