What comes to mind when you think of the word submission?

Maybe it brings to mind things like oppression, slavery or dictatorship. That’s not what we want to think about when we think about submission in the context of God.

God is a loving God, to him submission is more of a love language, it’s choosing to love him above everything. It’s choosing to trust that his way is best. It’s like a bit of a trust fall with a friend, letting go and falling into his arms.

Do you like surprises?

When it comes to people, I think it’s fair to say that nothing captures the public attention quite like the news of a seemingly “good” person who turns out to be bad, or visa versa.

We often see this narrative appearing as the plot to our favourite films and TV series. Seeing Darth Vader terrorise a galaxy in the original Star Wars trilogy, but (does it really need a spoiler alert at this point?) give himself up to the cause of the Rebels in an act of self sacrifice at the end left an indelible mark on my ten-year-old brain!

When I got my first “real” full-time job, I worked as a Worship Pastor in London.

I was buzzing. But I was also arrogant.

I came in with strong opinions, quick to change things, slow to listen. I criticised anything that didn’t match my preferences or theology. I wasn’t malicious—I just assumed I knew best.

It didn’t take long before friction set in. I had awkward interactions, disagreements with teammates, and a growing sense of isolation. I felt miserable… and I’m pretty sure I was making others feel the same.

Eventually I reached a tipping point.

I could either leave, or stop trying to fight for control. So I made a decision to submit—to serve the team instead of reshaping it. I began asking, “How would you like this done?” And honestly, everything changed.

I remember recently going for a meal in a pub.

By the bar was a roaring fire, and sat on a stool by the fire was a couple,  and on the floor was their dog. A big golden Labrador.

What made this memorable was that the dog was lying on its back, completely content and at peace. It’s guard was completely down, and it clearly was completely trusting of its owners, its environment and felt it could completely just lose itself in the comfort and warmth of the pub floor!

Jochebed is living in Egypt with her husband and children. They have been forced into captivity and slavery as members of a displaced people group known as the Israelites or Hebrews.

Pharaoh is threatened by the growing numbers of strong and fruitful Israelite families and he fears they will overthrow him with enemy forces.

He orders the Hebrew midwives to kill any boy infants who are born into these families but they defy him because as believers they know God would not allow this. Pharaoh then commands his own people to kill all male Israelite babies.

Jochebed is able to hide her son and keep him safe for three months but then her circumstances become desperate.

Her baby son is in grave danger and she must protect his life - but how? This is a miracle moment.

Submission isn’t easy. It wasn’t for Jesus in Gethsemane, and it hasn’t been for me either.

As a student pursuing an engineering degree, I had my life mapped out. A secure job, financial stability, and the freedom to carve my own path—it all made sense. My plans were clear, logical, and set me up for success.

But then, God called me to something different. He asked me to follow Him, to serve and lead in the Church. He asked me to lay down my plans—plans I had carefully built—and trust His.

In the medieval period, noblemen would swear fealty to the king. Kneeling before him, they would promise to remain loyal and support the king in his aims. One historian has said that these bonds of fealty were “stronger than family ties”. 

I’m sure none of us can imagine kneeling in front of someone else and swearing our undying loyalty to them. And yet, we are called to submit to Christ, and to each other. 

Submission is an acknowledgement that we are not in charge.

It’s no secret that I’ve had more careers and years in education than some have had hot dinners.

Each time I’ve approached these areas of my life, it’s always been with the intention that ‘oh this is it, this is what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life.’

Then inevitably God will show up, tell me, ‘nope. Go there, here, do this, that.’

I remember when I was a lot younger and God telling me to lay down my performing arts career hopes (it really was for the best in hindsight).

I pushed against his edict for months before finally giving in. I did this whilst moodily sitting in my back garden with my journal, dramatic tears flowing down my cheek gazing at the sky saying ‘ok God.’

It was not the first, nor the last time God would ask me to lay something down for him. I’d like to say I was a smidge more obedient the next time, I can’t be sure.

I do know that it wasn’t done with a one woman amateur dramatic production in my back garden.

I will say this, I think I’ve done far more walking with God than I ever would on my own.