Does Fear Hold You Back?

It is hard, no, nearly impossible to ignore the constant purging of information media can throw at us these days; honestly I can be distracted by this more than I would like to admit. For me, information can feel like it is bombarding my brain from absolutely every side. More than that, as a woman living in 2017, I find it increasingly difficult to ignore the media which has put out a mass signal calling every woman to stand tall, proud, and to tell the world “I am woman, hear me roar!”

As I type this I cringe, during these times, my flesh would love nothing more than to be well liked by succumbing to these media messages that are played out in the news, in my social media and even in some of my friend circles. Lately, following Jesus, submitting to my husband and dying to self as a living sacrifice (Roman 12:1) aren’t necessarily on the “popular” list.

In today’s world submitting to a man is less than ideal. When I read scriptures such as “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness” (1 Timothy 2:11) and “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is himself its Savior” (Ephesians 5: 21 -23) my body can begin to tense as these go against everything the world tells me. In a world where women proudly march in the hundreds of thousands for ideals nowhere close to this, I find it best in most circles to hide the fact that I believe these scriptures are true. I fear what man will think if they knew that yes, I do in fact believe the husband is to be the head of the home and that I do believe that men and women have different roles, both equally, wonderfully and fearfully created in God’s image.

My fear of what others may think of me has been in hyper focus lately. During one of Laurie’s lectures she read the Webster’s definition of submission “1. To yield to governance or authority 2. To subject to a condition, treatment, or operation.” Then she began to read the biblical meaning of submission. Laurie shared this definition by using Christ as the example. Christ became sin so that I could be shown the grace of God, so I could stand before God holy, blameless, and spotless. In all of this, the son of God did not even count equality with God a thing to be grasped (Phil 2:6). He laid down his life for me, for you. Jesus is the example of true submission. I was stunned at the stark contrast, and was then reminded by the Holy Spirit that I too, for many years thought submitting in any way was to be done as Webster’s definition. To think about submitting to someone else can be scary, especially since we are told that we have to stand up for ourselves always because no one else will care for us like we care for ourselves. The current study, Falling In Love Again With Your Husband, has helped me learn, however, that I submit out of my desire to be obedient to Him because of who He is and what He has done for me. It is the Lord that gives me the desire and strength to submit and it is the Lord that gives me the strength to go against everything the world tells me without fear, and that’s definitely a moment by moment surrender.

To anyone who may be reading this and myself included—do not be a slave to fear, do not be bound by what a fallen world may think of you. Do not be stuck in the mindset of having to tip toe around God’s truth.  If you are in Christ you have been chosen before the foundations of the world by a mighty, merciful, all knowing God who saw fit to pull you from the pit of destruction. He saw fit to clean you up and set you apart for His glory. In a world that urges you to declare your independence you must stand upon the truth and unapologetically say “Yes, my life belongs to no one but Jesus. When I was dead in my own sin, when I deserved the wrath of God, a man name Jesus rescued me.” This means confessing in a self-focused culture that you did nothing and can do nothing to earn your salvation. That you are dependent. This means we must turn our back on the ways of the world without fear knowing that God EQUALLY has the ultimate authority in every man and woman.

Even when it is uncomfortable and widely unpopular we must firmly stand on truths that are hard for some to understand. We were specifically created for a purpose; we were created to glorify God and yes, to be a helpers fit for our husbands. I will submit to my husband because I first submit my life to Christ.

Do the media messages you see every day confuse your thoughts of truth? What are some messages you see that are hard to decipher if you should believe them or not? Let’s connect in the comments!

-All for His glory