What's Submission Got to Do with It?: Find Out From a Woman Like You

by Cindy Easley

Much writing about complementary roles in marriage treats the subject theoretically. But how does this actually work in the give-and-take of real marriages, with flawed husbands and flawed wives? What about marriages where the wife out-earns the husband, or has a powerful position outside the home? Scripture says that wives are to respect their husbands. When does “submission” cross the line into destructive co-dependency? Drawing from in-depth interviews, as well as Scripture and her own story, author and speaker Cindy Easley takes a candid, sometimes humorous, and always helpful look at what it means to submit in 21st-century marriages.

Genres: Christian

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a refreshing read after finishing another similar book that left me wondering if I was a feminist living in open defiance to biblical standards for a woman. Thank goodness this book reassured me I'm not. Cindy breaks down in a normal Christian woman's terms, what it really means to submit and how significant it is for a strong independently minded woman to do so.

I loved her insight on our sin nature to "control" our husbands, taking the focus off our husband's spiritual shortcomings and putting back on ourselves and our obedience to Christ in this area. We can trust God to work if we just obey and practice submission.

Past the first two chapters on submission, each next chapter was stand- alone covering specific scenarios. I found them all fascinating, full of practical advice. I love that Michael Easley has written a chapter to the men at the end of this book. I loved this quote at the end, about Ruth Graham:

"I bet if Ruth were here today, she would tell us that she gained far more than she sacrificed. That's how submission often works. When we choose to use our vast resources to further our husbands' leadership and success, we are the ones who gain the most."

I have a long ways to go in the area of submission, but I was so encouraged by this book!

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: this book has been republished as:

Dancing With the One You Love: Living Out Submission in the Real World


A very accessible, Bible-based book, which works out what it looks like to submit in real life and in a variety of situations, e.g., when your husband has chronic illness, when you earn more, when he's deployed, etc.

I was blessed to borrow a copy from an older woman in our church. I loved being able to note which sentences she had underlined and which paragraphs she had marked.

This would be great as a group study. In fact, there is an appendix with questions for further study. For each chapter, two or three Scripture passages are given with two or three specific questions related to each passage.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

it took me three times of picking this book up and getting bored and putting it back down to actually get through it over the course of the year. I enjoyed the excerpts the author wrote more than the actual material. But then again, maybe I just didn't need to hear these messages at this particular season of my life.

[Erin Henry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much different than all the other books on submission.