I do not consider myself a brave or audacious woman but there are several occasions in my life that I have had to act with courage, even if I am trembling.
Having courage does not mean that there is absence of fear or doubts, but that, in spite of them, being determined to act courageously, when facing any circumstance.
I do want to clarify that being brave does not come from my own strength but from the One who lives in me. 1 John 4:4 says, “…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” He gives me courage when I do not have it.
Something else that helps move me towards courage is when I read about the women in the Bible who bravely faced difficult circumstances. During my faith journey I have heard more sermons or Bible studies about the brave men in the Bible and not so much about the stories of the women that God used.
There are several women in the Bible with incredible stories, each one is an example of a woman determined to be courageous. Read the following list with some of my favorite examples.
The determination and courage of…
Hagar, whom God saw and spoke to in her moments of anguish and despair. (Genesis 16:13)
Miriam, who as a little girl, bravely approached and spoke with Pharaoh’s daughter to protect the life of her little brother Moses. (Exodus 2:7)
Rahab, who showed kindness and risked her life by protecting the spies to save her family. (Joshua 2:12-13)
Deborah, who was the only woman chosen to serve as a judge during a season of oppression in Israel. She was a leader, who led her people to victory. (Judges 4-5)
Ruth, who moved sacrificially to a foreign land because she loved her mother-in-law unconditionally. (Ruth 1:16)
Hannah, who poured out her soul to the Lord about her infertility. He heard her anguish, her grief and prayers, and granted her a baby. (1 Samuel 1)
Esther, who used her voice and position to defend her people. (Esther 4:14)
Mary, a virgin teenager who was chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world. She courageously accepts this gift despite the uncertainty that it would bring to her future and her relationship with Joseph. She was determined to face whatever was presented to her because she trusted God’s promises. Mary was willing to be a servant of the Lord. (Luke 1: 26-38)
The woman with an alabaster jar that sacrificially shows her love by anointing Jesus with this perfume, regardless of the harsh rebukes the witnesses gave her. She does not say a word, but she does a “beautiful thing”. The aroma with which she went home after being in proximity to Jesus was one that no-one there would forget. Jesus said, “…what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:1-11)
The Samaritan woman who spent time with the Messiah and believed and boldly shared with her community what she had witnessed. Many Samaritans believed in Him because of her testimony. (John 4)
The women disciples that followed Jesus, like Joanna and Susanna who financially gave to support Jesus ministry. Or Mary Magdalene one of the women who discovered the tomb was empty, the first person to see Jesus alive and one who shared with the other disciples that Jesus had risen. (Luke 8:3; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:10; John 20:18)
The woman ill for 12 years of hemorrhaging, who faithfully touched only the edge of Jesus’ cloak and was immediately healed. A “little bit” of Jesus was enough power to change her life. (Luke 8:43-48)
Tabitha, a disciple who used her talents to do good works and help the poor. After falling ill, she dies, but God uses Peter to resurrect her. Her story was known throughout her city and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:36-43)
These women are heroes of the faith, every time I read their stories, they motivate me to want to follow their examples, to have their faith and audacity. Each of them had a relationship with God and a love to serve others.
I hope that their examples and voices motivate us to live more fully, to love unconditionally, to be willing to take risks, to know God deeper and to love others better.
In May, I will celebrate a very special birthday. I am still in denial about how old I will be, but I am working on accepting reality. This year as a way to embrace my age, I set out to do a series of new things, some will require more courage than others, so I am not sure how it will go, but what I do know is that this year I am determined to live and be a courageous woman.
What about you, what is a new thing you can do this year to live more courageously?
Stay tuned to the next word…
