Whenever I write about almost anything, especially women being keepers at home and submitting to their husbands in everything, I undoubtedly receive a ton of questions concerning the exceptions; all of the “what ifs.” I have been pondering this a lot recently and there is no perfect answer for every exception. Each situation and circumstance is unique. This is why the godly, older women need to step up and be available to the women with the exceptions to guide them in the right way.

Let’s take women being keepers at home. What if a husband wants her to be in the workforce? What is she to do? What if she is lazy and doesn’t clean her home but sits around all day watching TV or running around spending money? I can see why a husband would want her to be in the workforce. What if he wants her to work to help his drug or alcohol addiction or even buy more toys for him? Then what? I would encourage her to not leave her home for the workforce and explain to her husband that the Lord wants her in her home caring for her children and home. If your husband simply wants you to help bring in income, figure how much money you’ll actually bring in after taxes and the cost of being in the workforce. Show him studies of the importance of mothers being home to raise their children, then pray diligently.

What about women submitting to their husbands? No, they should never submit to anal sex, watching porn with him, physical abuse, or anything wicked like these. What if he wants her to dress sexually? Is she to obey him? No, but she can dress to please him in a feminine way. She doesn’t need to dress like the Amish and all covered up. She can show her curves but not show too much flesh, too tight, too low, or too short. Some men want their wives to wear bikinis. No, she doesn’t have to submit to this in public since this is like going out in her bra and underwear. God’s will will always trump her husband’s will in matters such as this.

What about homeschooling versus public schooling, vaccinations, circumcision, sleep training, family bed, raising and disciplining the children, how many children, the food you feed your family, and so many other issues that aren’t necessarily sin issues but you have strong convictions about? Talk to your husband about them. Try to reason with him. But in the end, you must submit to him even if you feel strongly about a certain issue. He is the one who will be held responsible for how he led his family. You will be held responsible for submitting to your husband.

As you can see, there is no pat answer for every exception. This is why it’s wise to seek godly wisdom from older women. In the end, however, you must do everything you can to obey the Lord and live in obedience to your husband. This is His will for you and makes for peace in your home.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Ephesians 5:22-24