Lesson 83

How Important Is Showing Respect To My Husband?

Our living testimony is first to our husbands and our respect for our husbands is not optional. It requires our trust in God because humans have failings and we should not allow another person to determine our reactions and responses. Wives showing respect to their husbands are doing the right thing, regardless of what their husbands do. Disrespect should have no place in the heart or behavior of a godly woman. Living out your respect for your husband can be challenging, especially if he falls into sin, if he does not take responsibility for his duties to the family, or if he treats you disrespectfully.

Jennifer’s mom helped her learn to influence her husband without words. “Fully trusting God is not yet my default setting, but I long for it to be. When I do, my heart is calmed and I can respond to my husband’s offenses in a proper manner without being defensive. When I hold onto His promises of making things right and being my Defender, all of my fears that could manifest through otherwise disrespectful attitudes toward my husband melt away like wax. My response to my husband all boils down to my heart’s condition toward the Lord. As I go through my rather crazy schedule every day, it is easy to look at myself and feel self-pity, but when I turn my eyes on the cross and put my total trust in Jesus, my heart is placed where it is designed to stay, resting in His everlasting embrace. It is from this place of rest that I am freely able to love my husband unconditionally and without looking back at his offenses. Soaking in God’s love frees me like nothing else.”