Have you ever considered how important it is to protect your spouse? It’s obvious that a husband should protect his wife, as she is the weaker vessel, but it might be a challenge to think about how a wife would protect her husband. Nevertheless, I believe it is possible and needed in a successful marriage. Let’s explore both and challenge ourselves to protect each other. 

Peter writes, “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). 

There is so much to unpack from this verse, so let’s work it in reverse order for a moment and then come back to the original thought.

  1. I don’t want my prayers to be hindered. I want to be able to have my prayers heard and answered in the way I desire, yet in accordance with God’s will. 
  2. My wife and I are both heirs of the inheritance of grace of eternal life, and since we are both heirs, I should honor her because we are both trying our best to get to heaven.
  3. Since my wife is physically weaker as a woman, I need to be understanding and patient with her in our lives together. 

Getting back to the whole idea of protecting our spouses. We’ve already established that a husband should live with his wife in an understanding way, and I think it is obvious that a man should protect his wife or really anyone who is vulnerable. But how can a wife protect her husband?

One way is to obey what is commanded previously in the same context of the verses we have already mentioned. Look at 1 Peter 3:1-2. 

“In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.”

Being submissive is protecting him. It’s serving him, loving him, praying for him, and being an example to him of good works. A wife can protect her husband in various ways, but here are a few that come to my mind:

  1. Have his back by supporting him as he leads the family. Remember, the two of you have left your fathers and mothers and have cleaved to each other (Genesis 2:24). You are to be helpers for each other (Genesis 2:18-23). Make your family a priority over everything and everyone else. Do not allow someone else or something else to come between the two of you. This includes other family members, work, careers, hobbies, or entertainment. Protect your marriage and your husband by standing by him through thick and thin.
  2. Help him in various ways around the house and in making decisions regarding your family. Ask your husband how you can help with whatever might be on his shoulders or in his mind. This goes a long way because instead of him feeling like he has to handle everything, you share the responsibility, which protects him from having too much stress. 

To be completely transparent… I believe these tips go both ways. Wives, live with your husbands in an understanding way, and husbands, seek out ways to take the load off of your wives. 

Take care of each other and protect your spouse.

For the Lord,

Alex Mills