Some people assume, quite wrongly, that I must be depressed, sad, upset, oppressed, etc.. and that I could not possibly be happy living out God's design for marriage today. They think that biblical submission means slavery - which it does not. And they think that I have no voice or ability to influence my husband now. The opposite is actually true! I have way more power to influence my husband now than I ever had when I was controlling, critical, and disrespectful.
My husband is infinitely more attentive, loving, generous, helpful, kind, appreciative, plugged in and godly now than ever before. He stands taller. He seeks God much more diligently. He is inspired to want to be more and more the man God desires him to be now that he can hear God's voice and he feels the weight of responsibility for our marriage and family on his shoulders as the God-given leader of the family.
This is not oppression, it is freedom, peace and joy. :)
This is Real Love and Real Life from God.
Here is the most amazing thing about living for Christ Jesus, He is sovereign. He can change my circumstances any time in any way. He can also do miracles. He can change my husband's heart. If my husband makes a decision I don't agree with, I can pray and seek God's will about that decision, and God can change my husband's mind much more effectively than I ever could. (Of course, if my husband asks me to do something against God's Word, or to sin, then I must choose to submit to Christ, and cannot go along with what my husband is asking me to do.)
But whether my husband changes or not, my goal is to be close to the Lord, walking in His ways, honoring Him, and honoring my husband and marriage.