Covering Testimony: Elaine Miller
Name: Elaine Miller | Age: 29 | Location: Cincinnati, Ohio (USA) | Date started covering: May 2016
1) Introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a 29-year-old single woman living on my own with three dogs: Roman, Charlie Brown, and a third puppy I’m currently trying to re-home.
I grew up in a Baptist household with two older brothers and an older sister. We were all home educated and had a little family band that would travel singing hymns & songs that my father wrote. Both my brothers went into the Marines and are combat veterans. I’m very proud of them both; however, their experiences in the Middle East have made it harder for my family to accept my practice of head covering.
I worked in cosmetics through college, and when I graduated I got a second job as a bank teller. While I have two English degrees, I currently run a small makeup artistry business while working for Honeywell as a Proposal Coordinator.
2) Where do you attend church? Tell us a little bit about it. Do others practice head covering there?
I was led to Over-The-Rhine Living Water Church in November of 2015. It’s a small, inner-city mission which is part of a larger church group called Acts Ministries International. None of the women cover in my church, but they are very supportive. Several sisters have even given me scarves as gifts.
3) What led you to start covering?
After I started attending my current church, I began to feel convicted of the relationship I was in with a non-Christian man. We basically lived together and I had been hiding it from my family and his friends, though my girlfriends and my colleagues knew (big red flag there, obviously). Because I grew up having knowledge of the truth and had memorized an abundance of Scripture, I knew I was wrong before God.
Finally, after several months of conviction, I fell to my knees in brokenness and gave my life fully to Christ. As I fell, I felt compelled to cover my head in submission to the Almighty. I had to surrender my will to His. That was the beginning of my covering journey. And because covering is part of my conversion story, it is very special to me.
After the day I surrendered my will to the Lord, things started changing. I didn’t understand why I felt compelled to cover my head during that time but I knew from my past experience that women covering their heads was at least not contrary to Scripture. Scrolling through Facebook a few weeks later, a picture showed up of a man from my former church camp and his wife singing a song in their church; she was wearing this long, lace mantilla. At that moment I knew there was more to covering than I had initially thought.
After that, I dove into research and read everything I could find about head covering while praying earnestly about how to approach the subject with my family and church. My biggest resource was this website because there is a lot of information here in one place. I also continued to read Scripture and ask the Lord to reveal the truth.
As I read 1 Corinthians 11, I saw several compelling arguments. At that point, it was as if a light bulb turned on. If head covering wasn’t necessary, why would Paul even mention it in his letter? Once I realized that covering our heads is a symbol of submission to the true God and His authority, I recognized its significance and why the Father would want us to be reminded of that role. I need that reminder daily.
4) When do you use your covering?
For the first year and a half, I covered 24/7. Currently, I cover during church, worship, prayer, private study, and usually at work. If I go to a nice dinner with girlfriends or my church family, I will have a scarf or cap on hand but will wear my hair down. Sometimes I just make sure to wear a zip-up hoodie.
5) What was that first Sunday like when you showed up in a covering?
It was great! Exciting! I had the blessing of my pastor and fellowship so I felt that was even more affirmation for me to push forward.
6) What counsel can you give to women that do not cover out of fear?
The first thing is to examine yourself honestly. Scripture tells us that we must examine our hearts earnestly and walk in repentance.
Secondly, seek the Lord in all things, and test all things with Scripture. Recognize that your own understanding of Scripture is flawed without the help of the Holy Spirit. Remember the God we serve! Obeying Him isn’t always easy — but how can anything be a “sacrifice” for Him if it’s easy? I’d like to recommend that you read these passages for encouragement: Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, 1 John 4:18, and Philippians 4:6.
7) What would you say is the best and the most difficult aspect about head covering?
I’m still learning the blessings of covering, but a huge blessing has been to take more notice of the various biblical symbolisms in many other aspects of life, history, and throughout Scripture. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that covering is mentioned in the same chapter as the symbols of Jesus’ death and resurrection (the Lord’s Supper). I understand my role as a woman so much more and have confidence in my Creator. I have joy knowing that I am pursuing the Savior with a fervent heart. I feel extremely blessed.
Besides, wearing a head covering is also very practical! I don’t wash my hair often (about once a week), so it keeps dirt out.
The most difficult part of covering, for me, has been facing my own rebellion and stubbornness. This thing on my head doesn’t mean I’m super-spiritual or on some higher level. I still struggle with consistency and obedience in many things, and if I’m not on guard, Satan can creep in and plant those ideas in my mind.
The other difficult aspect has been dealing with the assumptions other Christians make about me. I’ve been called legalistic and been told that I’m misunderstanding Scripture. It makes my family uncomfortable and they think I’m just caught up in a performance-based religion. It breaks my heart how many people think that any form of obedience to the commands in God’s Word is legalistic or pharisaical. We must remember that it was not the act of obedience that Paul taught so strongly against; it was the false teaching that obedience apart from Jesus was required for salvation.
8) What kind of covering(s) do you use? Where did you get them?
I mostly use scarves and will buy them wherever I find them cheaply! Occasionally, I will splurge on a nice scarf for a wedding or something. I often wear a hijab-style because it ’s convenient and pretty. I also wear turbans and baseball caps. Wrappunzel.com is a great resource for undercaps and accessories to keep the covering on your head. I use velvet headbands because my hair is fine and many scarves slip off.
10) How did you hear about the Head Covering Movement?
Google! I was searching “Christian Head Covering” and came across a few older blogs where this website was mentioned.
- Covering Testimony: Allura Lightfoot - October 20, 2023
- Why I Cover My Head // plus Headcovering Tutorial - July 17, 2023
- Covering Testimony: Amy Larry - March 26, 2023
