Women are Weaker

Now is the point where I write something I don't like. That's part of sharing what God has been teaching me, and pursuing holiness in all things. It's not always fun. But it's necessary. So read on, at your own risk! :)

Women, we were created as the weaker vessel. We have been created as weaker than men (1 Peter 3:7). Now, I get it if that makes your blood boil a little bit. I sometimes feel that, too. After all, that’s part of our curse from Eve, in the beginning (Genesis 3:16). Just as real as the pain in childbirth, is the desire for us to be stronger than men, namely our husbands. I don't want to be weaker. I want to be better, faster, and stronger. But that's not how God created women. It's not how He sovereignly created me. I am weaker than my male counterparts. I get it, ladies. Our culture tells us we can be just as strong, just as fast, and just as good as men. But that's where we get it wrong. Just because we are the weaker vessel doesn't mean we are less than men. We were created beautifully, but also weaker. We have a purpose and a calling, and it involves us being weaker. We have a specific mission and duty, and the Lord knew what we could handle and what we could do. 

Let me be potentially the first person to ever tell you this, but it’s ok for you to be weaker. It’s ok that you can’t watch the same bloody movies your husband watches, because you are weaker. It’s ok that you can’t always be the one helping him move the furniture, because you are weaker. It’s ok that you need his help opening the lid on the jar. It’s ok that you can’t keep up with him when you’re running. It’s ok. God meant for it to be that way. [Granted, there are certain times and circumstances when a woman may be stronger than a man, but in general, women are weaker than men. Even if you are better than him at something, it's all about your attitude in that.] It is so much easier to be a humble, caring, loving, weaker wife when your husband honors you the way God commands him to. But friends, even if your husband doesn't treat you like the queen you are, we are still called to respect them and honor our place in the marriage. I get it, it’s really hard. Our society tells us it’s ok to burp just as loud, and lift as much weight, and run as fast and as far. We feel like we have to constantly remind our male counterparts that we’re as good as them, or they’ll forget how they should treat us (let’s be honest, do we really want to be treated like “one of the guys”?!).

Sweet friends, that’s not how God created us. God created us for a specific role and with a specific design for our calling, and how it must break His heart when He hears His beautiful daughters congratulating each other on a loud burp, or laughing in the face of our brothers when we beat them arm wrestling. That’s not who you were created to be. Call me old fashioned, but women are not supposed to be good at the same things as men. Men are created to be strong, courageous, and bold. God created women to be supportive, nurturing, and hospitable. No wonder our homes are often a wreck… Because we mix up and confuse these roles. Women try to domineer men (taking us all the way back to the curse on Eve), and men are left feeling as though their manhood has been stripped away, because it has been, by the very one who is supposed to be there helping him. 

This is a big problem. It’s a problem too big for us to continue waiting for the other to start first. Women, of course we want our men to honor us and treat us like queens. Of course we want them to “man up” and lead better in our homes. But first, follow well. Give him the respect that he may not deserve right now, but you are commanded to give anyway (this, in no way, should give permission for abuse. If you are in an abusive situation, get help immediately). And in case you feel like I’m preaching this because it’s easy for me, think again. I’m guilty of each of these things. But for goodness sake, it’s time to embrace the role God designed for us, and stop trying to force ourselves into a role and mold that’s not meant for us and we have no business being in. It won’t be easy, and we may be humiliated at times because of it, especially at first. But put that aside and start acting like a lady. 

Also, take a listen to this and let me know what you think.

http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/men-of-uncommon-honor