“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.” – Proverbs 3:5
What Does The Bible Say About Submission
Submission is an important principle in the Bible, and God desires His people to understand and practice it. It does not mean one person is less valuable than another, but it is about recognising authority and following it willingly. Submission begins with God because He knows what is best for His children. Trusting Him means following His ways, even when they do not fully make sense.
The Bible teaches submission in relationships, especially in marriage, where love and respect should guide both husband and wife. It also speaks about submitting to leaders in the church, government, and workplace to maintain order. In friendships and the church, believers are called to serve one another with humility. Choosing to submit allows God to bring peace, unity, and blessings into people’s lives.
Submission also teaches patience, humility, and trust in God’s timing. It is not always easy, especially in difficult situations, but believers are encouraged to stay faithful. Knowing that God is in control brings peace even when things seem unfair. Submission is an act of obedience that strengthens faith and deepens a person’s relationship with God.
Jesus showed the greatest example of submission by obeying God, even when it led to suffering. His sacrifice brought salvation to the world and showed that submission is not a burden but a path to spiritual growth. When believers follow His example, they experience the blessings that come from living in obedience to God’s perfect will.
Also Read: Bible Verses about Adoration
Submission to God’s Will
Submission begins with surrendering to God’s divine will. The Bible calls us to trust and obey God in all aspects of our lives, even when we do not fully understand His plans. True submission requires humility, faith, and the acknowledgment that God’s wisdom surpasses human understanding. By yielding to His guidance, we align ourselves with His purpose and experience His blessings.
James 4:7
“So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.”
Proverbs 3:6
“Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”
Luke 22:42
“Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?”
Psalm 37:5
“Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done.”
Romans 12:1
“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”
Submission in Marriage
Marriage is a sacred covenant that thrives on mutual submission. God calls both husbands and wives to honour, respect, and submit to one another in love. Submission in marriage is not about control but about serving one another selflessly. It reflects Christ’s relationship with the church and fosters unity, peace, and a deep sense of partnership in the marriage.
Ephesians 5:22
“Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting.”
Colossians 3:18
“Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honour the Master.”
1 Peter 3:1
“The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs.”
1 Peter 3:7
“The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honour them, delight in them.”
Submission to Authority
God has established leadership and authority for order and governance. Submission to authority, whether in the workplace, community, or government, reflects our obedience to God. When we honour those in leadership, we display humility and trust in God’s sovereignty.
Romans 13:1
“Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order.”
1 Peter 2:13
“Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level.”
Titus 3:1
“Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand.”
Hebrews 13:17
“Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God.”
Proverbs 21:1
“Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.”
Submission in Service to Others
Jesus exemplified a life of service and humility, showing that true greatness is found in serving others. Submission in service is about putting others first, considering their needs, and demonstrating Christ’s love through our actions.
Mark 10:45
“That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many.”
Philippians 2:3
“Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.”
Galatians 5:13
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
John 13:14
“If I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet.”
Romans 15:1
“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter.”
Submission to Spiritual Leaders
God appoints spiritual leaders to guide His people in truth and righteousness. Submitting to these leaders is an act of obedience to God’s order in the church. This submission fosters unity, accountability, and spiritual growth, ensuring that believers receive wisdom and direction.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
“And now, friends, we ask you to honour those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience.”
Hebrews 13:7
“Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you.”
1 Timothy 5:17
“Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
Acts 20:28
“Keep watch over yourselves, and keep watch over all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians.”
1 Corinthians 16:16
“Submit to people like these and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors at it.”
Submission to One Another
God calls His people to live in mutual submission, valuing and serving one another in humility. This type of submission builds strong relationships, encourages unity, and reflects Christ’s love in our daily interactions.
Ephesians 5:21
“Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.”
Philippians 2:4
“Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”
Romans 12:10
“Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.”
1 Peter 5:5
“You who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—God has had it with the proud, but takes delight in just plain people.”
Galatians 6:2
“Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.”
Submission in Trials and Suffering
Trials and suffering test our faith, but God calls us to submit to His will even in difficult times. Trusting Him in our hardships builds perseverance and deepens our dependence on His strength.
1 Peter 2:19
“What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason.”
James 1:2-3
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”
Romans 8:28
“That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”
Psalm 55:22
“Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.”
Submission to God’s Timing
God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with our expectations. Submission to His timing requires patience, faith, and trust in His divine plan. Waiting on God teaches us endurance and reliance on His wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
“There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.”
Habakkuk 2:3
“This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.”
Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles.”
Psalm 27:14
“Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.”
Galatians 6:9
“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.”
Christian Quotes on Submission
“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” – William Booth
“True faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God’s fidelity to His Promises.” – Francis Chan
“God is looking for men and women who will dare to trust Him completely. The world has yet to see what God can do with a person who is fully surrendered to Him.” – D.L. Moody
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.” – Corrie ten Boom
“God’s will is not an itinerary, but an attitude.” – Andrew Murray
“The first step to victory is surrender. Give up your way for God’s way, and you will find the path of life.” – Charles Stanley
“The safest place in all the world is in the will of God.” – Warren Wiersbe
“God will never plant the seed of His life upon the soil of a hard, unbroken spirit. He will only plant that seed where the conviction of His Spirit has brought brokenness, where the soil has been watered with the tears of repentance.” – Alan Redpath
“It is not hard to submit when we know that He who calls us to do so has infinite love and wisdom.” – A.W. Tozer
“Surrender is not the best way to live; it is the only way to live.” – Rick Warren
Final Thought
Submission is not about weakness, but about trust. When we submit to God, we acknowledge that His ways are higher than ours, His plans are better, and His wisdom is greater. It is in submission that we find true freedom—freedom from anxiety, self-sufficiency, and striving. Jesus, our perfect example, submitted completely to the Father’s will, even unto death, and through that act, we have salvation.
As believers, we are called to submit in various aspects of life—whether to God, authorities, spiritual leaders, or one another. This practice strengthens our faith, builds our character, and draws us closer to God’s perfect will. Submission is not about control, but about love—love for God and love for others. May we continually yield our lives to the Lord, trusting that His ways lead to joy, peace, and eternal rewards.