What Does Submission to God Look Like?

Dear reader, 

The title may turn your stomach around. But I must say that I am severely turned off by the word submission. 

Oddly enough that is one of the main reasons I believe God sent me to work at a factory. 

Back in February of 2023 you might remember I was a teacher at a daycare. It was the easiest, and most enjoyable experiences of my life. The best part, I really had one (kinda two, but not really.) person I had to answer to my entire stint there. 

And I rarely. Was corrected or was told what to do. From day one I was told-

“You can do whatever you want as long as it’s not illegal.”

“Sweet.”

Now. I must place the disclaimer here. I have no problem with respecting those placed above me, its the internal submission that I have trouble with. 

Really the only thing that I was denied at the Daycare was using nerf guns for a cowboy game. (I had safety glasses and everything) but that specific toy was banned from the daycare, which I learned after the point of purchase. 

(I still have these nerf guns if someone would like to duel me like a cowboy. Give me a call.)

BUT. That takes us to March. God lead a series of events that involved my appendix wanting to leave my body, and me not having the financial ways to cover the extensive $22,000 bill. 

I prayed many days, many times to provide the money in miraculous ways, but he had a lesson in mind that I didn’t want to go and be a part of. 

My preferences and personal choices were that I was to stay at that daycare and do what I love, and just wait for God to provide the money. But He wanted something else. He wanted me to submit to Him and go learn all about how to submit in all things. 

Factory work as you might know or assume is quite bland. 

There is nothing super exciting about going into work. 

But there is a ridiculous amount of money that can be made with such a role. 

I knew He wanted me to leave my teaching job, which was so hard to let go of. There were tiny hearts I was leaving behind, and I still wanted to teach them more of God’s love and His word. But as God reminded me on my way out, “You’ve done what you were there to do. Let go and come where I’m taking you.”

Sounds familiar…

My last day at the factory involved the most submission. More specifically the last four hours. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, oh boy did it test me. 

I went into the day knowing that God was the lord of all things, that I was to take up my cross and walk through the day as Jesus would if he worked there. 

I went about my day like I normally would. I got ready to write out the paperwork in my first area, then I noticed one person was doing a job meant for 3 people. So I rushed over to that spot to help them out. 

I ended up there for about 10 out of 12 hours I was there. 

Let me paint this picture for you. Saltine crackers are placed in a box and then are sent on this long treadmill up to an elevator where it is then taken to the warehouse in order to be sent to the stores. 

Our elevator was very broken on this fine day, so I had the pleasure of taking each box off the conveyer belt and placing it on a pallet. A new box would come by me every 10 seconds or so, so you can assume I was kept busy. I had a partner who would help here and there, but they were responsible for taking the pallets down to the warehouse by pallet jack. (A simple machine to help move pallets.) 

This job is very very very easy. Sometimes. That day we had smaller boxes, but that meant it all moved way faster. My shoulders and neck after the first 8 hours were quite sore. I believe I tweaked my neck as well which brought in a painful headache through the rest of the shift. Which brings us to the next part of submission. 

At about 3:00 PM in the afternoon the elevator begins to work. 

My position is no longer needed.  

One of my co workers gets very dizzy and lightheaded. So I go to help her with the responsibilities she had to get done. She ends up getting sent home, and asks me to take care of the rest of the responsibilities. “Of course. Go take care of yourself.” 

I tell my supervisor the elevator is working and I ask if I can go down to where they need help. “No. You just stay here.” 

“Okay.” As I swallowed my pride and a little bit of anger. 

There was no reason for me to stand here and watch packages and the time go by. If you know me at all I can’t stand doing nothing. Laziness is a major conflict in my life, and I hate it. But what my supervisor told me to do was nothing. 

I paced back and forth. 

I started to sing worship. 

I read my pocket bible. 

I prayed. 

I talked to anyone who would listen. 

I was bored out of my mind for 3 and a half hours. 

The last 30 minutes the elevator went out again for 10 minutes. Then it was fine until 7:00 PM. 

Those ten minutes were why I was positioned there.

I won’t pretend that my supervisor Carl is God by any means. 

But I truly believe God placed me there on my last day to teach me one final lesson on submission. 

To listen and honor those above me with my actions and attitude. 

I can’t say that I nailed it. But I know at the end of the night I was not bitter, I couldn’t be. Those ten minutes were enough of a reason for me to stand there doing nothing until they came. 

Submission to God feels like this some days. He gives you explicit instructions on how to live your life, and the principles that will guide you in that way. But there are also times where it seems like nothing will change even if you are doing exactly what He wants of you. 

To be consistent in submission is honoring Him. To disregard His call to constant submission is to sin. 

Sincerely

Your Somewhat Submissive Soldier