SUBMISSION: THE POWER OF YIELDING

Pastoral Messages by Matriarch Elnette Edwards

Beloved family,

Submission is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts in Christianity. It’s not about being weak, oppressed, or inferior. Biblical submission is the powerful choice to yield to God’s authority and the authorities He’s established, trusting that this posture positions us for His blessing and protection.

First and foremost, we submit to God. This means surrendering our will to His, our plans to His purposes, our desires to His design. It’s saying with Jesus, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” This isn’t passive resignation—it’s active trust that God’s way is better than ours, even when we don’t understand it.

I’ve fought this battle repeatedly. Strong-willed by nature, submission hasn’t come naturally to me. I’ve wanted to do things my way, on my timeline, according to my wisdom. But every time I’ve insisted on my way instead of submitting to God’s leading, I’ve experienced unnecessary difficulty. Conversely, every time I’ve submitted to His direction—even when it didn’t make sense—I’ve eventually seen His wisdom and experienced His blessing.

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Submission also applies to human relationships within proper boundaries. Wives submit to husbands, children to parents, employees to employers, citizens to government, church members to godly leadership. But this submission is never absolute—we submit “as to the Lord,” meaning our ultimate allegiance is always to God. If human authority contradicts God’s clear commands, we respectfully decline to follow while maintaining a respectful attitude.

Submission doesn’t mean tolerating abuse or enabling sin. God never calls us to submit to mistreatment or participate in wrongdoing. Biblical submission occurs within the context of mutual love, respect, and righteousness. It’s not a license for authority figures to dominate but a call for everyone to honor the order God established.

I’ve also learned that submission is actually powerful, not weak. It takes tremendous strength to yield when you could resist, to follow when you could rebel, to trust when you could control. Submission demonstrates confidence in God’s design and security in your identity. Insecure people must always assert themselves; secure people can submit when appropriate.

Jesus perfectly modeled submission. Though equal with God, He submitted to the Father’s will, even unto death on a cross. His submission wasn’t weakness—it was the strength that brought salvation to humanity. He showed us that submission to God’s purposes accomplishes more than rebellion ever could.

Submission also protects us. When we submit to godly authority, we receive the benefit of their wisdom, experience, and covering. When we rebel against proper authority, we step outside God’s protective order and expose ourselves to consequences we could have avoided.

But submission requires wisdom and discernment. Not every person in authority is godly. Not every instruction is right. We must prayerfully discern when to submit and when to respectfully decline. This requires spiritual maturity and often wise counsel from trusted advisors.

I’ve had to learn submission in my own ministry. Though I lead, I submit to a board of elders who provide accountability and guidance. I don’t always agree with their decisions, but I’ve learned that their collective wisdom often sees what my individual perspective misses. My submission to their authority has protected me from mistakes and brought blessing to our ministry.

Where are you resisting submission? Is it to God’s clear direction? To proper authority in your life? To wisdom you need to hear? Examine whether your resistance comes from legitimate concerns or from pride. If it’s pride, humble yourself and submit. If it’s legitimate concern, address it respectfully and prayerfully. But don’t let pride keep you from the blessing that comes through proper submission.

Submitted to His will,

Matriarch Elnette Edwards