12 Ways to Show Respect to Your Husband

In a healthy marriage, respect is as crucial as love. Here are a few things that wives can do to strengthen their marriage.

Try These Things

1. Listen Without Interrupting

1 Peter 3:1-2 says, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.” Wives, you can win your husband with your conduct. We see in Scripture that Eve influenced Adam to sin (Gen 3:17), but Abigail influenced David away from committing sin with her words (1 Sam 25).

2. Avoid Belittling Him

I would encourage wives to not belittle or be sarcastic with their husbands. Proverbs 12:4 says, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.” According to this Scripture, a wife is either a crown or a cancer. It only damages your relationship when you make fun of him, compare him with others, shame him for not being spiritual enough etc.

3. Affirm Him Verbally

God created man from dirt and He made woman out of the rib. When we look at the nature of men, they seem to be drawn to dirt or work–it’s sort of our identity. As a result, a wife’s verbal affirmation, especially for the work done, is crucial for a man’s self-esteem.

4. Support His Goals and Aspirations

The Bible says in book of Genesis that God created a wife to be a helpmate. Now today, this idea that a woman is to be a helpmate to her husband drives people crazy. Many believe that “It belittles women.” However, that is not the case.

Men and women are equal but wives have the power to be able to support and influence their husbands and his operations for the better.

5. Take Care of Your Appearance

Be the best version of yourself and your husband will notice that you are taking care of your appearance. Choose to do it because you’re a reflection of God’s glory and because you want to stay attractive to your husband.

6. Prioritize Sex

Sex is a superglue in marriage and many times for a husband, he feels most connected to his wife through sex. When a wife constantly rejects her husband from having a sex, she humiliates him. He feels humiliated. He feels not good enough and if that is combined with belittling in the relationship or other problems, it can lead to an outlet of porn.

7. Yield to His Leadership

Submission in marriage is like a yield sign on the road. Failure to yield results in disobedience and marital problems. Our culture has an issue with this topic, but it was God who created the rules for relationships in the Church and in the family. God said the husband is to be the head of the wife and the wife is to submit to his leadership.

The whole idea of submitting and yielding has nothing to do with being less than. Otherwise in the Trinity, God the Father would be greater than the Son and the Son will be greater than the Holy Spirit but the Bible says they’re equal.

8. Give Him Space

Often, when men get overwhelmed, especially things get tense, they need space. Sometimes they may need to step away for an hour, breathe, collect their thoughts, and then they can come back. Don’t take it as a sign of rejection.

9. Stay Loyal and Faithful

Loyalty and faithfulness are foundational to trust and security within any marriage.

10. Engage in His Interests

One of the ways that men open up and become involved with their wife’s life is when a wife shows interest in his activities and is willing to enjoy it together. For a man, it’s a lot more difficult to connect and communicate while just sitting and eating. Many feel more connected doing an enjoyed activity.

11. Support His Family

Don’t bash on your husband’s parents or siblings. They are your family too. Instead, look for ways you can support his side of the family.

12. Maintain Privacy of Your Marriage

Don’t gossip about your marriage struggles to others. There’s nothing wrong with having mentors in your life and seeking help, but it’s different if you’re bashing your husband or constantly revealing secret struggles of your marriage to people who don’t need to know that.

Bonus Advice: The influence of single or divorced friends should be balanced with married couples who share a positive view on marriage.

Read: 20 Ways a Husband Can Show Love to His Wife