5. Trust in Your Partner’s Intentions
Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and it plays a significant role in learning how to be submissive. Submission becomes toxic if there’s a lack of trust or if one partner is manipulative or controlling. True biblical submission requires:
- Trusting that your partner has your best interests at heart.
- Believing that each person wants to see the other grow and thrive.
- Letting go of fear and control, relying on God’s guidance for a secure, loving relationship.
This level of trust helps you approach submission as a positive act. When trust is at the core of your relationship, submission is rooted in the confidence that both partners will act out of love, respect, and consideration.
6. Focus on Serving Each Other Selflessly
Being submissive also means focusing on ways you can serve and support your partner selflessly. Jesus taught His followers to serve one another, and in a relationship, this principle can create a deep bond of love and commitment. Here’s how you can practice selfless service:
- Looking for ways to make your partner’s life easier or happier.
- Taking on responsibilities that support your partner’s needs.
- Offering encouragement, guidance, and support when they need it.
Selfless service is the heart of submission, and when both partners serve each other, it creates a relationship of mutual care and respect.
7. Let God Be the Center of Your Relationship
The ultimate way to practice healthy submission is to put God at the center of your relationship. When both partners seek to honor God in their relationship, submission becomes a natural outflow of their faith. Keeping God as the focus means:
- Praying together regularly for wisdom, guidance, and unity.
- Seeking God’s will in decisions and challenges.
- Reading scripture together and encouraging each other’s spiritual growth.
When God is at the core of your relationship, both partners are better equipped to approach submission with a spirit of humility, service, and love.
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8. Seek Balance and Boundaries
Healthy submission also involves maintaining balance and boundaries in the relationship. Submission should never involve enduring mistreatment or sacrificing personal well-being. A healthy relationship respects each person’s boundaries and values individual growth alongside partnership. To maintain balance:
- Set boundaries that respect each person’s needs and values.
- Recognize and appreciate each person’s individuality within the relationship.
- Encourage each other’s independence while supporting togetherness.
Balanced submission means that both partners find joy in lifting each other up without compromising their own well-being.
Embracing Submission as a Partnership
Learning how to be submissive in a relationship from a biblical perspective is about creating a relationship grounded in mutual love, trust, and respect. Submission is not a one-sided demand but rather a mutual commitment to prioritize each other’s needs, humbly serve one another, and place God at the center of the relationship.
In the end, submission in a biblical sense is not about losing autonomy or control; it’s about fostering a relationship where both partners support, serve, and love each other as Christ loves His church. By embracing the principles of humility, trust, communication, and selfless love, submission can become a powerful expression of faith and partnership that brings joy, growth, and unity to any relationship.