Day 13: Submission & Bravery: another lesson from Sarah.

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives... For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."
{1 Peter 3}

I am a daughter of Sarah. This verse intrigues me and gives me comfort. It has for quite some time. I am that grafted-in daughter. What does it mean to not give way to fear? 

The word "fear" in this verse could mean 2 different things: 

1. General fear of terror or the unknown. Another translation puts it this way, "And you are her children if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening". Anything? Anything. That is a tall order. This is one way to interpret this passage. However, I think it's best explained by number two. 

2. Fear of submission. Submission can be scary if you do not understand what it truly is. In our culture submission represents weakness. It is often met with manipulation. By God's design, submission is a yielding of oneself out of trust and respect. It's dropping "my way" in exchange for "our way" or at times, "your way". I could get off on a very big tangent on the concept of submission, but I will abstain (be watching for a future blog post!) Marriage is the most obvious context for this, but in ALL relationships submission must occur. There is a natural, healthy rhythm in relationships; an ebb and flow of give and take mingling and bowing out to create a harmony that is God-designed and God-pleasing. In my most familiar context in this season, I get to practice submission daily with my husband. Submission looks different with us. We mutually give and take, lead and follow each other. We are learning because we are new. Mutual submission means two sinful people seeking to do things the way our Creator intends, the way culture and media tells us is outdated and counterproductive. But we learn this rhythm, our wills taking the backseat while our vow to serve each other steers. 

Submission means yielding even without the promise of cooperation from the other person. Submission means not having to be recognized, justified or right. Submission is difficult and unnatural. Submission is the way of the Creator. It is not a master and servant kind of relationship, it is a relationship made up of two servants, both committed to disadvantaging themselves for the other. It is trusting that the other person has your best interest in mind; they won't coerce or abuse. Submission trusts that even if one is wronged, that justice will be found and executed by the Good Father who sees all. 

I take comfort from this passage. I take comfort in this challenge to learn to be a daughter of Sarah, a daughter of the Promise. First, what a relief to know that even Sarah leaned toward the temptation to fear. What a relief to know that I'm not alone. Second, submission takes bravery. Yielding to the Creator's way in my relationships is right, but it is brave. It is vulnerable. And I choose this way.