For most of us, “submission” is a very difficult word. But we can think of our perfect example — our Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture tells us He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin, and that He said, “I do always those things that please the Father” (John 8:2929And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29)). Shouldn’t our desire be to pattern our lives after His? When we were raising our children, a very special older sister came to spend a day with me to help me. Even then, I wondered about the word submission. So, I asked her what her definition of submission was. She thought a bit and then said, “I cannot give you a chapter and verse that would answer your question, but I can give you an example in my own life of how the Lord taught me submission.” Of course I was all ears because even the Lord Jesus in His ministry used examples and parables to teach. What she said has been a great help to me.
She and her husband had several children, and when her husband was in his late 50’s or early 60’s the Lord called him Home to Himself. It was such a shock that she couldn’t get over it for years. She kept asking the Lord why, when she needed him so much, did the Lord take him from her and her children, who all needed him. Sometimes, though she did not want to be bitter, bitterness would begin to intrude.
One day, as she happened to be standing in a rose garden, she cried, “Please, Lord, can You give me a reason?” Now although the roses were very beautiful to look at, they had many thorns on their stems. As she looked at them, it was as if the Lord said, “I have laid you on a bed of roses that have many, many hurtful thorns among them. If you lie still and rest in Me the thorns won’t hurt you nearly as badly, but if you struggle they will continue to go deep.” She realized that God was teaching her to rest under His loving hand. “Sit still my daughter” (Ruth 3:1818Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. (Ruth 3:18)). “Be still and know that I am God” (Psa. 46:1010Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)). “That which I know not teach Thou me” (Job 34:3232That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. (Job 34:32)).