As many of you know, all the guys in our squad have joined together to spend a month of ministry as men. Because of this, I was switched to an all girls team. It has been such an honor to live and work with these incredible women this month. One of the most special moments we have spent as a team is when we started a women’s bible study. We decided that since we were coming together as women, that we would study all the women in the Old Testament of the Bible. Since then, I have been learning so much – about how God used different women, what the lineage of Christ looked like, and how I can learn from the mistakes and victories of the women mentioned.
The funny thing is that Jesus didn’t choose the most perfect, eloquent, have-it-all-together type of women to be a part of His lineage or even to proclaim His name. He looked these girls in the eyes and saw who they could become. He saw a prostitute, a barren women with no purpose, a servant, women in despair, etc., and gave their lives purpose and hope.
It’s easy for me to look around in our world today, and quickly label the people around me. It’s easy for me to label myself.
The prostitute
The girl that had an abortion
The friend that got pregnant when she was 16
That selfish woman who only thinks about herself
The impatient lady at the store
Whatever and whoever it is – we tend to label people and ourselves. What’s crazy is that God sees the mistakes we have made, he sees when we mess up, and he knows our thoughts when we disobey Him. YET, he uses us anyway and gives us a new name. Take a look at some of the women in the bible and how God totally restored and redeemed their lives.
Rahab
Imagine a prostitute, hired by the King. She pleases the king and is used however he wishes. From a little girl, her family gave her over to the king to serve him. She sleeps with man after man, learning secrets that she can eventually relay back to the king. Her body is nothing but a tool to get information from visitors and men coming through the town. However, this prostitute defies everything her people know as true, and follows the only living God. Turns out everyone in her land is completely wiped out and destroyed – leaving her and her family as the only ones to be protected. Talk about God’s grace and protection. This story is about a woman named Rahab, who is part of the lineage of Christ. Without her, Jesus would not have been born. She was redeemed, remembered, and restored. I think of how many people labeled her and saw her only as a prostitute – how her family may have viewed her, how Joshua & Caleb may have seen her at first, or how she saw herself. Yet, God saw who she could become and loved her anyway.
Tamar
Imagine a woman given by her father to marry in to another family of three sons. She marries the eldest son, who is wicked and only looks after himself. He treats the woman poorly and does not show her love. Yet, this woman is faithful to him despite how he treats her. However, God sees the oldest son’s heart, and strikes him down dead (ouch – imagine if we were struck down whenever God saw the dirt in our hearts). So, the woman is then given to the second eldest son so that she can carry a son and continue the family line. When trying to conceive a baby with the second eldest son, he is deceptive and does not perform fully. God notices this, and strikes him down as well. The women must have felt so hurt, deceived, manipulated, etc. A women’s purpose at this point in time is to have children, and she was failing to do that time and time again. She is then sent back home to her own father, mother, and household. Her family must have made her feel like such a failure for not being able to carry out her destiny and purpose. The woman hears word that the father of the three sons is coming into her town. So, she disguises herself as a prostitute, and waits by the city gate. The father comes to town, sees the woman and doesn’t recognize her, and sleeps with her. This woman is named Tamar, and the father she slept with is Judah. Believe it or not, Tamar ends up being in the lineage of Christ as well. Such a messy story, and hard to read. God used Tamar despite the past that she had, despite the people that used her, and despite the mistakes she made.
These are the stories of just two women in the bible that Jesus used. God also used women like Noah’s wife, Ruth, Tamar, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Miriam, Hannah, Esther, etc. to bring glory to His name. Some of these girls were MESSED UP. They screwed up over and over again. They became jealous of other woman, comparing themselves. They doubted and were sometimes angry at God. They cried out in anguish and sadness. They were flawed, just like we all are.
BUT, thank goodness we have a God of redemption and second chances. Despite what we call or label each other or ourselves – God has named us daughters of the King! We are also restored & redeemed. He turns our ashes into beauty, our shame into freedom, and our stories into something that brings purpose and gives life.
Be encouraged that God sees the darkest parts of your life & sees who you can become. Stop shaming yourself and feeling guilty to how you have been living. Remember the women in the bible who I’m sure felt so much shame in the past, yet God used them anyway. I know it can sound so cliche, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Start seeing yourself as God sees you. Start believing in what you are capable of. Start speaking with confidence and letting God work through you.
You are beautiful, capable, powerful, confident, restored, redeemed, seen, valued, important – NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE OR BEEN THROUGH. What if you labeled yourself with these words every day? How different would your life be?
I know mine would be different.
