Fearless Femininity

As a young woman, I struggled with the idea of “submitting” to my husband. “What will happen if I really allow him to function as the head of our home? Will he take advantage of me? Will he make decisions that will reap disastrous consequences? Will he turn into a cruel, domineering dictator?”  For most–whether married or single–women fear the “unknown” of embracing their feminine calling and role.

Peter recognized this common struggle and addressed it,

“Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves . . .” (1 Peter 3:4-5).

He closes this passage with a commendation to women who follow Sarah's example of femininity, “And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening” (1 Peter 3:6b).

Embracing our role and calling as women does not include placing our trust in our husbands. They will fail. They will not meet all our expectations. They will disappoint us. They may make crummy decisions. They may even give us cause for fear, because after all, they are finite, and limited in knowledge and understanding! But there is One who is not.

Paul's instructions to husbands and wives in Ephesians 5:22-33 is preceded by these words: “And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” 

Our hope and trust is not to be placed in our husbands, but in our God. We are to fear no one or nothing but God.

And when this infinite, all-knowing, all-wise Being gives order to our relationships, we can trust He knows what He's doing. We can live out our femininity fearlessly because our trust is in the Almighty God and His sovereign care over us. 

What are you afraid of when it comes to living out your feminine design and calling?