Submit

Proverbs 18:22 says,

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.”

I mean come on, where are all my ladies at that I know just like me, enjoy reading that verse! Let’s get real and admit that much of the time we have an easy time identifying all that we bring to the table as wives and do for the family. If you’re anything like me, you may even point those things out as “gentle reminders” for everyone to step their game up and pull their weight at home, because everybody knows when “Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”. We are quick for everyone to take note, because ya know, “happy wife, happy life” too, right!?

But really, what does the Bible actually say about all of this? Yes, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.”, but also, Ephesians 5:22 says,

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
‭

Now, where my ladies at on that one…myself included!? I don’t know about y’all, but I like to do the telling more than I like being told. My efforts in trying to make everything perfect and serve my family, often times comes across more as the need to control and make sure everyone is doing things my way. And even amidst my controlling ways, nine times out of ten, my husband still does what I ask (sometimes tell) him to do.

I know if any of you are again like me though, it is not intentional to act in such a way. We really don’t try to be miss bossy, bratty pants and do strive to submit ourselves to our husbands, especially in an effort to honor God. We can all be encouraged and learn to be just that from the story of Sarah in the Bible. She by no means was the perfect wife, but just as Abraham was called to leave everything he had ever known to go to an unknown place with an unknown future by an unknown God, so was Sarah. God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, but in order to do this, he would have to trust almighty God. The purpose and plan that God had for him did not look anything like one would normally think it would, and it certainly wasn’t written up and laid out perfectly from his OCD, perfectionist, little wife Sarah. Instead, God called Abraham to walk by faith straight into His plan and promise, and He called Sarah to follow, because just as He had big plans for Abraham, He had them for Sarah too. The secret ingredient to seeing these promises fulfilled was faith. Just as God changed Abram’s name to mean “father of many nations”, He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah (meaning princess-c’mon ladies who doesn’t want to be called princess) marking the promise He had for her too. “Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” Genesis‬ ‭17:15-16‬.

And just like that Princess Sarah became a mother of many nations and they all lived happily ever after. Sounds about right, huh? Not so fast my friend, think again. We all know life isn’t a Disney movie and promises don’t come that quick. As a matter of fact, it was 25 years later and some episodes of that controlling “happy wife, happy life” mentality creeping up in between, before God’s promise actually came to fruition. But hear this, despite things looking differently than one would think they should, despite the circumstances, despite the problems and obstacles, despite the unknown, the promise remained and by walking out in faith, and believing the promise of God, it was fulfilled. Hebrews 11:11 says,

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

She waited 25 years. She was 90 years old, y’all, but by FAITH she was granted the strength to walk out and receive her promise.

God has promised me personally some things, just as He has Eric, my husband. Of course in my need to make everything perfect for my family, I sure would like to write out my own little picturesque plan to get there, but how many times do I have to refer back to Isaiah 55:9,

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
‭‭

God has provided an amazing job opportunity for Eric beginning in February next year in Tennessee. Eric has worked so hard for many years to advance in his career and provide for our family and he said that he feels like his entire career has been leading up to this opportunity.

I am sharing Sarah’s story and this blog post today to especially remind myself that just like Sarah, I must submit myself to this dream, vision, opportunity, and promise from God of Eric’s, knowing that it will take us both walking out in faith to see all of God’s promises for us come around full circle and be fulfilled. While there have been some bratty moments and times of digging my heels in the literal white sand of the beautiful beaches of South Walton, I am choosing just like Sarah to leave everything we know to go to an unknown place, to an unknown future, but in differing with Sarah, with a KNOWN God.

I’m sure God has promised you some things. I’m sure He has purposed some things in your heart too, and through your faith, you believe you will receive these promises. The promises may look impossible from a worldly view, they may look crazy to everyone around you, maybe even to you and everybody else but your husband, but by faith, submit yourself in whatever area you need to, ultimately submitting to God and wait and see that promise come to pass. I know I will. I know you can too. Don’t underestimate the plan that God has for your life, just because it isn’t written out like a perfect little fairytale, tied up in a bow. Trust me, in the end, through faith we can all be saved by grace, and all live happily ever after.