What exactly does a submissive wife look like?

I try to challenge women today to think of the word submission in other terms. The word does not mean, as some think, being a slave or allowing yourself to get walked on or abused. Instead, submission will more often involve things like supporting your husband, believing in him, giving him respect. Those words help describe what submission really means.

My role as a wife is to support my husband. I am to believe in him, respect him, and help him (see Gen. 2: 18, 20). I want to help Dennis become all that God intends for him to be. That doesn’t mean, of course, that he’s not also helping me to become all God intends me to be! We do that for each other. But my primary role is to be a helper, to believe in him, and to support him in what he believes God is calling him to do.

When we first started talking about joining with others to launch a ministry for married couples and families, I was free to voice my concerns and express my opinions. Once the decision was made (in this case, a decision we both believed was God’s will for us), my assignment was to respect, support, and encourage Dennis as he gave leadership to the ministry. He has told me many times that my belief in him gave him courage. When we wives demonstrate respect for our husbands, we make it easier for them to do what God has called them to do.

Taken from FamilyLife Marriage Bible