Concerning Women
In light of this past Sunday’s celebration of Mother’s Day, I feel compelled to discuss women. The many hats we wear, emotions we go through, silent struggles and endless lists of uncompleted tasks that constantly remain floating within our brains, never to be completed; for when one thing is crossed off, another item is quick to take its place.
Overall, or perhaps just within my own world and mind, (and if that is the case you can ignore everything I say from here on out) I find the female population to struggle the most with value and self worth. Our constant self chatter of endless critiques would be enough to take down a herd of elephants, were we able to convert that to a serum and fill tranquilizer guns with the potent potion.
Am I enough?
Do I matter?
Why do I lack so many skills, creativity and intelligence?
I wish I looked more like her.
Endless streams of thought revolving around a “deficiency” of one sort or another, creep in and choke out even the tiniest sapling of confidence that attempts to grow within our heart. Therefore, we remain stuck in the endless cycle of self-loathing, or at the very least, stuck in our boxes, too scared to emerge from what we consider our “covering” of safety, when in reality, it is actually our prison.
Why do we feel this constant pit of emptiness within our stomaches? This vacuum in our heart that threatens to suck everything good and lovely and worthwhile into it like a giant black hole, because we don’t believe we deserve such blessings.
My thought, my opinion on the matter, comes from the very beginning of time.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman” (Genesis 3:15a)
enmity (noun) :positive, active and typically mutual hatred or ill will
Hatred
We are hated- And not just something said flippantly, like I “hate” chicken livers, but hatred in the strongest sense of the most profound emotion you can feel toward another person whom you despise. To describe it another way, the devil and his demons hate with the same intensity, same magnitude and with every ounce of emotional gusto the word symbolizes, as our Lord and Savior loves.
Christ is pure love.
Satan is pure hate.
This is the curse that was placed on the serpent. He will loathe us as women. Why? Because it would be through a woman a Savior would come and completely crush every bit of his prideful, arrogant plans to destroy humanity. He spent centuries trying to prevent the Promised One from coming, but to no avail. Now he continues his hostilities toward us, because he wasn’t able to stop the inevitable. We are the constant reminder of his downfall and soon coming eternal punishment.
So, we must take seriously the accusations, not because they are true, but because they are most certainly not! You have been bought with a price and set free by the blood of the Lamb. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus and the old has passed away, yes- ALL things have been made new. (Not my opinion, but straight from the mouth of the Holy Bible) We must fight our adversary!
Yet, we struggle and strive, wrestling with memories of yesterday’s failures. May I suggest an alternative? What if, when the darkness comes to overshadow our minds with fork tongued deception, we told him to shove it? And not politely and certainly not “lady like”.
And what if, when we start feeling like we are worthless, not enough, unskilled, ugly, unlovable and all other deficiencies our swirling thoughts can contrive; we decide to speak out all that we have gained and remind the devil he is a liar?
Every day I see beautiful, amazing women who tirelessly care for their families. Long days spent shuttling children to and from school, activities and appointments. Wives and mothers who keep their families fed, healthy and alive. (And some days that is a miracle in itself, if you have a son like ours was when he was little)
Women who encourage one another more than they tear down. Ladies that champion their fellow sisters and cheerlead other’s accomplishments.
Women who sacrifice their own comfort to help a friend or even a stranger in need. Ones who will open their home in full, gracious hospitality just to ensure family and friends can gather and connect.
Single ladies who keep pushing and grinding to get the job done, achieve the next goal and win the next fight. Single momma’s with a passion and fiery determination in their eyes to make a way for their babies.
Strength veiled behind mascara and red lips, as they march on day in and out, checking all the boxes off their list. Fatigue threatens them, yet still they push forward with purpose.
The main chief in the kitchen. The maid who picks up and cleans. The planner and organizer of everyone’s schedules. The personal shopper and finder of all things lost in plain sight.
The one who loves those around her with a fierce passion. Kisser of every boo-boo, teller of the best bedtime stories and world’s best snuggler. Beautiful smiles that can light up a room and change the whole trajectory of someone’s day.
Women who care for aging parents, ill spouses or disabled children. Sleep is fleeting and self-care is optional, because there is always work to accomplish.
Women who blaze the way in innovative thinking, managers and entrepreneurs, with skills that help keep society rolling full steam ahead.
The encouragers, comforters and selfless givers. Ladies who will think of everyone else before their own self.
These are the women I know and see everyday.
Women who are God’s incredible masterpiece. No- No… we do not lack, but we have plenty, abundantly more, beyond all words can fathom, because we are a daughter of the King.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1)
Yes, He is still working on all of us. Cleaning up our hearts, purifying our minds, correcting our misguided ideology and growing us more and more into the image of Jesus. Just because you are a work in progress doesn’t make you “less than”, it actually makes you “more than”.
When a house undergoes a remodel, the process is meant to increase its market value.
As we go through our spiritual remodel, it is meant to increase our Kingdom value. We begin to act like, think like, walk like and talk like Jesus more and more each day.
The process takes a lifetime to complete. Give yourself some grace.
And the next time the devil starts trash talking and trying to drag you back down to his level, tell him to shut up and get out of your face! You have more important things to do than listen to an old, broke down ex-worship leader who lost his job for all eternity.
My dear women- please remember your worth is rooted in Christ Jesus. Whom He says you are, that is who you are. You can be confident in His truth and hold fast to His strength when you feel weakness seeking to overtake you.
You are so precious to our Lord.
Remember- Jesus first revealed Himself as the Messiah to a woman (John 4:1-42), and it was a woman who saw our resurrected Lord before any other. (John 20:11-18)
Don’t tell me you’re not good enough!