Women of Grit
I love the month of May in my garden. Many mornings, I rise extra early to make a cup of tea, bundle up, and sit outside to listen to the musical sounds of the birds as they welcome the day. I often close my eyes and let the early morning perfume of roses and night blooming jasmine wash over me. These early spring mornings are such treasured moments for one’s soul. It feels as if God has lifted a curtain to reveal a new season of hope as the beauty of the spring garden emerges from its winter slumber.
I love to watch the limbs of the trees and plants as they burst forward with new life fearlessly and freely, with total courage and faith in knowing that God is with them and will be with them through the seasons to produce beauty for His glory.
This time of year, I also love to celebrate the gifted women in our lives, our Mothers, Grandmothers, Sisters, Aunts and treasured friends. So many of these treasured women in my life (and I know we all have some in our lives) have the same characteristics and deep devotional faith in God. I call them “Women of Grit.”
For we live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7(NIV)
Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews11:1(NKJ)
They have walked before us, guided us through our life journeys with such a deep soulful faith. Their life stories are full of treasured memories that have encouragement etched on the heart. They understand the deep substance of faith in God and know we can do all things with Him.
But Jesus looked at them and said to them,“With men this is impossible,
but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew19:26(NKJ)
So many of these amazing “WomenofGrit” in my life have testimonies of the working of God in their lives. I often think of the many women of courage in the Bible, “WomenofGrit” who have the same total faith in God as those fearless first bursts of the spring garden.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
Psalm 46:5
In a Bible study of the Book of Exodus with my Ladies’ Prayer group, we were introduced to the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah, who went against the king of Egypt’s order to kill the Hebrew women’s first born if it was a male. As it says in verse 1:18,
“But the midwives feared God (which is a reverence for God) and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.”
Though these two women are briefly mentioned in this story, their act of courage led to the intricate part of the birth of Moses, who, as we know from our Bible studies, God used to preserve a nation and to carry forth God’s promises for His people and generations upon generations to come.
Paul, a close family friend, recently gave me his well-read copy of The Way of Abundance, A 60-Day Journey Into A Deeply Meaningful Life by Ann Voskamp. He said he knew I would understand her writings.
I found a quiet time in my daily activities to begin my 60-day journey.
Though I had some bumps in the road, with the book put aside for a while, I recently started this journey again, and found myself reflecting upon the short, yet deeply moving daily readings, how the author, a pioneer, farmer, wife, mother of seven, is a Woman of Grit and her writings are to inspire us to have courage to continue to move forward, even through the darkest moment of uncertainty, rather than step aside, on the path that God has for us.
This passage in her writing spoke to my heart: “ Someone once told me she’d found the courage to follow her heart’s desires. I watched
light move across her like clouds across the fields, and I loved her. But love doesn’t mean agreement. Love means sacrifice. And I didn’t have the words then. I learned more through my own bloody battles, and asked them limping: Do we follow our heart’s desires-or do we desire to follow Christ? Courage isn’t doing what you want in life; courage is laying down your life. Otherwise it’s not courage—it’s self-gratification. Courage is always selfless: less self, which ultimately means more holy happiness for your soul.”
She continues to share that those who seek to be happy must first seek holy. If you want to be popular and please people, you might believe your life must preach happiness. But if you want to profoundly please God, you must make your life preach holiness. As Oswald Chambers writes, “Holiness, not happiness, is the chief end of man” because holiness is not a single attribute of God—but a synonym for all of who God is.
And after reading this passage, I sat back for a moment to take a quiet breath, and realized how our journey in life is filled with the various cycles of beginnings and endings and beginnings again (just like the garden), and can only be lived to its fullest in God’s love and holiness. This gives us the courage to carry forth each day and continue to grow our lives with courage as “Women of Grit” for God’s Glory.
Like Shiprah and Puah, there are so many amazing Godly Women in the Bible that I often call them ExtraOrdinary Heroes. They have had the courage and faith to walk through the unknowns of life’s circumstances for they know that God is with them and will always guide them.
This season, I celebrate all of you, my treasured friends, Moms, Aunts and Sisters in Christ who have inspired my life and trust in me to share these incredible life journeys with you as “Women of Grit.”
Directives
1) Write your story as a “Woman of Grit” for God.
2) Who has inspired your journey with love and encouragement to have the courage to walk forward in your faith for God?
3) Reach out to thank the special “Woman of Grit” in your life to let them know how they touched your heart and inspired your life.
Women of Grit / Women of Courage in the Bible
Women of courage in the Bible include figures like Esther, who risked her life to save her people, and Deborah, a judge and prophetess who led Israel to victory. Their stories exemplify strength and bravery in the face of adversity. The Bible features several women who exemplify courage and strength. Here are some notable figures along with their inspiring stories:
Esther: Risked her life to save her people from genocide, demonstrating bravery and faith.
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place..." (Esther 4:14)
Deborah: A judge and prophetess who led Israel to victory against their enemies, showcasing leadership.
"The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased until I, Deborah, arose..." (Judges 5:7)
Miriam: Moses' sister who played a crucial role in leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
"Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand..." (Exodus 15:20)
Ruth: Showed loyalty and courage by choosing to stay with her
mother-in-law Naomi, leading to her own redemption.
"Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay..." (Ruth 1:16)
Encouraging Verses for Women
These verses can inspire women today to find strength and courage in their own lives:
Proverbs 31:25:"She is clothed with strength and dignity; shecan laugh at the days to come."
Joshua1:9:"Have I not commanded you?Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Isaiah 40:31:"But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles..."