Submission: Insights from a Strong-Willed Wife

I do not think that submission to your husband is treating him like a child. I also do not think that your relationship to your husband is to be thought of in the same manner as any other relationship you have with the outside world. A strong will is a good thing, but only when it is brought under submission to the word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. God's design for marriage is for the woman to submit to the husband. This means the same is expected from a strong willed woman as from a milder more submissive woman. You do not need to be a shrinking violet, but understand when it is time to ease up and recognize when you are being supportive vs when you are trying to take the reigns.

It seems to me that if you are a strong willed woman, you are always a strong willed woman. If being strong willed is wrong in relationship to your husband then it is also wrong in relationship to other adults. This advice makes me feel like you have to treat your husband like a child while the rest of the world is able to handle your strong will. Maybe there is some confussion between being strong willed and being rude. If a woman is born with a strong will then it is a character/personality gift from God that should be used in all relationships to bring glory to God and therefore needs to be practiced and shaped through experiences, prayer and Godly counsel. Seeing that the relationship between a husband and wife is the most intimate relationship we know, this would be a good place to start to hone this gift, but the changes that take place (if they are true) will affect all of our relationships.