Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Based on 1 Peter 2:13–14 (ESV)

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” — 1 Peter 2:13–14

Authority.

Just reading the word makes some people tense up. In our culture, authority is celebrated only when we are the ones holding it. But the moment someone says, “You need to come under authority,” something inside us pulls back. We think of abuse, control, manipulation, people who misused their roles, leaders who disappointed us, and systems that didn’t operate as they should.

But Peter doesn’t soften the command.

He doesn’t say, “Be subject only when you feel like it.”

Or, “Be subject only when the authority is perfect, godly, wise, and consistent.”

He says plainly and directly:

Be subject. For the Lord’s sake.

Not for your sake.

Not for the leader’s sake.

But for God’s sake.

That alone is challenging enough—but then Peter takes it even further. He names the emperor. He names the governors. He names people in positions that were anything but perfect in the first century world.

If there was ever a time for Christians to say, “We don’t have to listen to that authority because they don’t follow God,” it was then. Rome was not a symbol of Christian virtue. And yet Peter says the opposite of what we might expect.

This message is not for the faint of heart.

It’s not for the believer who wants Christianity to be easy.

It’s not for the person who wants a version of submission that never costs anything.

This is for the follower of Jesus who wants to grow.

Because coming under authority is one of the fastest ways God exposes what’s inside us—and shapes us into who He wants us to become.

Who Do You Think Of When You Hear “Authority”?

Be honest with yourself for a moment.

When you hear the phrase “come under authority,” who pops into your mind?

• Family?
• Parents?
• A spouse?
• Government or civil leadership?
• Boss or employer?
• Pastors or church leaders?
• Teachers?
• Coaches?
• Someone from your past who didn’t steward their authority well?

Authority is not a small topic. It touches every part of life.

But the real question—the one that gets right to the center of your discipleship—is this:

Who do you see as the authority figures in your life, and are you actually willing to come under their authority?

Most of us love the idea of accountability until someone holds us to it.

We love the idea of leadership until a leader asks something of us that we don’t like.

We love the idea of submission until someone says, “No,” or “Wait,” or “Not right now.”

But 1 Peter challenges us to rise above our preferences.

It challenges us to look through a different lens.

A kingdom lens.

Because as Christians, we don’t submit because people are perfect.

We submit because God is perfect.

God’s Authority Comes First — Always

Let’s set this foundation clearly:

God is the ultimate authority. Always. Forever. Without exception.

Psalm 103:19 says,

“The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

Everything in creation answers to Him.

So when Peter tells us to submit to human authority, he isn’t replacing God’s authority—he’s revealing how God works through imperfect leaders to shape His people.

God uses authority:

• To set boundaries.
• To promote order.
• To restrain evil.
• To commend what is good.
• To grow and refine us.
• To teach us humility, patience, and trust.
• To mold us into the likeness of Christ.

But here is the part we often resist:

God sometimes uses flawed human authority to accomplish His purposes in us.

And that is hard.

Because what do you do when the person over you doesn’t seem to reflect Christ?

When their decisions frustrate you?

When their leadership style rubs you the wrong way?

When you disagree with their perspective?

When they don’t treat you the way you hoped or expected?

This is where things get real.

“Are We Only Supposed to Come Under Godly Authority?”

Let’s be honest—we all want a loophole.

We want the verse to say, “Be subject to every human authority… as long as they behave perfectly.”

But Peter doesn’t give us that.

Here’s why:

No human leader is perfect.

Not the spouse.

Not the pastor.

Not the parent.

Not the supervisor.

Not the governor.

Not the president.

No one.

So the question isn’t, “Is this leader perfect enough to deserve my submission?”

The question is, “Can I trust God enough to honor Him through my submission?”

Obedience to authority is ultimately obedience to God—unless the authority asks you to disobey God’s Word.

This matters.

Because submission is not the same as silence.

It’s not blind agreement.

It’s not idolizing a person.

It’s not tolerating abuse.

It’s not ignoring sin.

It’s not suppressing your voice.

Biblical submission is not weakness.

It is strength under control.

Strength that yields to God.

Strength that trusts God’s timing, God’s justice, and God’s sovereignty.

Submission says, “Lord, I trust You enough to surrender my right to be right.”

That is not easy.

But it is holy.

Your Reactions Reveal More Than You Think

Every time someone in authority makes a decision you don’t like, you are given an opportunity to glorify God.

Every reaction is a testimony.

Your tone is a testimony.

Your attitude is a testimony.

Your words are a testimony.

Your silence is a testimony.

Your prayer life is a testimony.

Your restraint is a testimony.

Your willingness to surrender is a testimony.

You preach louder with your reactions than with any sermon you will ever speak.

Why?

Because your reactions expose what you actually believe about God.

• Do you believe He sees?
• Do you believe He cares?
• Do you believe He can correct?
• Do you believe He can convict?
• Do you believe He can move?
• Do you believe He can protect you?
• Do you believe He can defend you?
• Do you believe He can change hearts in His timing?

Submission isn’t about trusting the leader.

It’s about trusting the God who is over the leader.

A Hard Story: When Submission Feels Impossible

Years ago—before my husband began truly walking with the Lord—I asked God a hard question:

How do I come under the authority of a man who isn’t honoring You?

How do I submit when it feels like he isn’t leading me toward Christ?

I wrestled deeply.

It wasn’t simple.

It wasn’t comfortable.

It wasn’t easy.

And in that season, a pastor said something to me that shaped my entire perspective:

“You win him with your quiet example.”

Not with arguments.

Not with nagging.

Not with manipulation.

Not with ultimatums.

Not with frustration.

With quiet consistency.

With faithful prayer.

With gentle honor.

With Christlike humility.

As long as my husband wasn’t asking me to disobey God, I was called to honor him—not because he was perfect, but because God is.

And that commitment led me into a long season that tested everything in me.

My husband preferred that I wear dresses and keep my hair long.

Now, listen—

It wasn’t that I disliked dresses.

It was that I disliked being told I couldn’t wear something else.

I disliked feeling controlled.

I disliked the weight of expectation.

I disliked the pressure I didn’t ask for.

Everything in me wanted to resist.

But every time I took it to God, the Lord said the same thing:

“Honor Me by honoring your husband.”

So I wore dresses.

I kept my hair long.

For two years.

Two long, humbling, uncomfortable years.

And it changed me.

Not because dresses changed anything.

Not because long hair was the holy choice.

But because obedience changed me.

Submission changed me.

Surrender changed me.

Trust changed me.

And slowly—so slowly I didn’t see it at first—

It began to change him too.

God softened his heart.

God matured him.

God grew him.

God humbled him.

God transformed him.

Today, I wear what I want.

Not out of rebellion.

But out of respect, balance, and mutual honor.

And my husband?

He follows Christ.

He cares about my heart.

He respects my convictions.

He honors my choices.

He sees the sacrifice I made in that season—and he values it.

All because God taught me that submission is not about losing power.

It’s about unlocking God’s power.

What About Government?

This is where things hit close to home.

You may not like the people in office.

You may not agree with their decisions.

You may feel frustrated, unheard, or unrepresented.

But your calling hasn’t changed.

Scripture never says,

“Honor the emperor if you voted for him.”

“Pray for your leaders if you like them.”

“Respect authority only when they make perfect choices.”

No—

We honor because God calls us to honor.

We pray because God commands us to pray.

We respect because it reflects the character of Christ.

Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is the thing you never want to do:

Be quiet.

Choose restraint.

Walk in peace.

Pray instead of posting.

Honor instead of arguing.

Respect instead of reacting.

You don’t have to agree to be obedient.

You just have to trust God enough to obey.

What Submission Is Not

To be clear, submission does not mean:

• Enduring abuse.
• Staying silent about wrongdoing.
• Allowing someone to violate your boundaries.
• Tolerating sin.
• Abandoning wisdom.
• Accepting manipulation or fear.
• Pretending everything is fine when it isn’t.

Biblical submission has limits:

If authority asks you to disobey God, you obey God first.

Always. No exceptions.

But most of the time, our resistance isn’t because someone asked us to sin.

It’s because someone asked us to surrender.

And surrender is the place where God does His deepest work.

So What Does It Look Like Today?

Ask yourself honestly:

Where is God asking you to come under authority right now?

Maybe it’s at home.

Maybe it’s in your marriage.

Maybe it’s on the job.

Maybe it’s with a supervisor you don’t connect with.

Maybe it’s under church leadership you don’t completely understand.

Maybe it’s toward a parent you struggle with.

Maybe it’s toward a governmental leader you disagree with.

Wherever it is—

The question isn’t, “Do I like this?”

The question is, “Lord, how do I honor You in this?”

So what can you do?

• Pray for the leaders in your life. Even the ones you don’t like. Especially those.
• Guard your tongue. Your words shape your witness.
• Show respect even when it’s difficult.
• Check your heart for pride. Often, pride—not conviction—is the root of resistance.
• Choose to trust God over your feelings.
• Obey unless you are asked to sin.
• Live out your submission with joy, not resentment.

Because when you honor those God placed over you,

you honor God Himself.

Live Bold. Live Free. Live for Christ.

Submission doesn’t shrink you—it strengthens you.

It doesn’t silence you—it sanctifies you.

It doesn’t make you smaller—it makes you deeper.

Coming under authority is not easy.

But it is holy.

And it is worth it.

So ask yourself today:

Where is God calling me to surrender?

Where is He calling me to trust?

Where is He calling me to honor Him through honoring others?

Live bold.

Live set apart.

Live surrendered.

Live free.

Live under God’s authority—and reflect it through how you respond to every other authority in your life.

Live for Christ.