This month my team and I are serving at a missions college in Myanmar. The female students vastly outnumber the male students, and my teammate Emily started wondering how she can serve the females specifically.
She decided she wants to do a women’s conference and talk to the girls about what it looks like to be a woman of the Lord, what to look for in a husband, and how to experience God fully.
She asked us to come up with other ideas, and I decided I wanted to talk about important women in the bible. I felt this stirring in my heart so strongly, that I knew it could only be from the Lord. The last six months on the race I have experienced a lot of different cultures and way of life. In that, my heart has been breaking for women.
In some of the places I’ve been, women are not only disrespected, they are unwanted. They are skipped in lines at the market and restaurants. They aren’t allowed to speak. If their husband isn’t around, they aren’t seen. This has wrecked my heart. I wanted so desperately for these women to know their true worth. So, get comfy ladies because I’m about to show you how loved and important you really are.
Mary. She obeyed God even though she knew rumors would start, and people would judge her. She knew it could be, and would be hard. But she obeyed anyway. In Luke 1:38 she said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your words to me be fulfilled.” She trusted in the Lord so much, that she took the huge risk of being a pregnant virgin so that Jesus could dwell among us on Earth.
Ruth. She was as loyal as they come. When Ruth’s husband dies, her mother in law, Naomi, told her to return to her hometown and try to remarry. One of Naomi’s daughters-in-laws left, but Ruth wouldn’t. She was loyal to Naomi. She knew if she stayed with Naomi, they might struggle for the rest of their lives. But she stayed anyway. Ruth 4:15 says. “For your daughter-in-law, who loves you, and is better to you than seven sons has given him birth.” Because she stayed, God blessed her. She married Boaz, and he provided for both Ruth, and Naomi.
Esther. She fought for her people. The king wanted to marry her, but he didn’t know that she was Jewish. One of the king’s nobles wanted to destroy the Jews. When Esther heard of his plan, she went to the king for help, even though she could have been killed too. She fought for her people bravely.
I wanted to highlight these women because I feel like too often they are forgotten. We need to remember these women of God, and the qualities that made them women of God. These women were faithful to God, to their families, and to their people. They weren’t always respected, but they stood up for what is right. Whether you are one of the girls that I will preach to this Sunday, or a woman back in America reading this from a screen, I want you to understand one really important thing; WOMEN ARE IMPORTANT.
As women, we need to remember Mary, Ruth, and Esther. We need to be lights for our community. We need to remember why God created us, and what he says is true about us. Genesis 2:18 says, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a suitable helper for him.” Women were made for a purpose. God created women because he saw that man couldn’t do it on his own. I mean for real though, have you watched most men try to cook or ask for directions? Ladies, you are most definitely needed.
Proverbs 31:25 says, “ She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Other verses in the chapter say that she is a provider, she works vigorously, she cares for others, and she is worth far more than rubies.
God said all of this and more about women. He thinks you, pretty lady, are worthy, beautiful, valued, wanted, and needed. If God thinks that about you, shouldn’t you think it about yourself?
Just because you are a woman, doesn’t mean you don’t have a right to speak. Just because you are a woman, doesn’t mean your opinion means less. Just because you are a woman, doesn’t mean you should wait till all the men in the restaurant were served first even though you were in line before them. Just because you are single, doesn’t mean that you are worthless. You are desired. You are wanted. Your words have wisdom and weight. You matter. So, to all my ladies out there, believe this. Memorize this. Let God’s words about you wash over you until you believe it, and then, keep sitting in it, because it will feel so dang good.
