The dictionary defines “woman” as an adult human female. As factual as the latter definition may be, It doesn’t get more impersonal than that. This description had me talking to my computer and saying ‘I am much more than that’, with a bit of sass, of course!
When I was a little girl, I fantasized about womanhood because those before me carried it so well. I also had a false illusion of thinking that being a woman meant that my life will be perfect and that I would have “everything” I wanted. Then, you finally get to womanhood and things look a little different than you had imagined.
As a matter of fact, graduating from being a young girl to a woman comes with much pain, disappointment, rejection, intense love, forgiveness, healing, transformation and so much more. I am beginning to understand that what makes us so unique and powerful is the grace we’ve been given to not only carry life, but to sustain it.
We live in a time where women’s beauty, feminism and emotions are discouraged. Behaving the way we were created or even intended is something that is looked down upon. We live in a “liberal society,” we say. I am not supporting prejudice acts against women, but I am highlighting this new idea that being a woman and functioning the way we were created, is no longer celebrated. Our nurturing nature is the original ‘wokeness.’
However, if you look closely at biblical and independent history, women were always multifaceted and were always functioning in multiple roles. These “new” teachings remind me of what happened in the Garden of Eden, where Eve was manipulated by the devil into thinking that who she already was and what she knew to be true wasn’t enough. She was made to feel like she was being deprived of a better life experience, which is a complete LIE!
Unfortunately, we are still believing that lie today. We have been made to believe that we can’t have a successful career, business, be married and have children all at the same time. We are also being told a lie that we have to fight to be superior to men and that submission means prejudice.
Contrary to popular belief, empowering women is God’s idea, not mankind. God is a God of order, He created everything in a specific order and did so purposefully (Yes I am alluding to the fact that a man was created before a woman. Yet women give birth to men). Ladies, I want to help us dismantle the lies. Let’s start with the first lie told at the garden of Eden; God told Adam and Eve to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He didn’t give them this command because He was depriving them of a better “life,” but rather He was preserving them for a better life with him.
Much like today, we are fighting for things that we have because we are being made to believe that we don’t have them or that we are being deprived of them. As women, we have this generational notion that we don’t have a voice, or power. However, I would like to argue that that's untrue. We have always had a voice, power and strength. All throughout history, women have had successful businesses, led others and built families harmoniously. Not only that, but women have changed the course of history.
“She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
I believe that the beauty of a woman lies in the ability and capacity we have to carry all that we carry with so much grace because of who is in us, Jesus. Our beauty is woven together in our ability to love and forgive, along with the warmth we carry into every room we walk into. Our beauty is deeply rooted in the fact that we “make it happen” and our incredible faith, which is how for generations we’ve raised powerful men and women, without the presence of fathers in most cases. Our beauty is in the way we take care of our husbands, run successful companies, raise children, take care of our communities and build profitable businesses. Having done all that, we still cook amazing food, clean and enjoy time with our sisters.
“Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear — but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:3-4
Let’s allow our true beauty to be defined by our creator, not culture or societal standards. Our purpose and fulfillment lies in fully aligning ourselves with God’s plan for us as women. Let’s take up space, completely comfortable in who we are and confident in our significant role in society. Let’s live our lives celebrating who we truly are and celebrate each other. We’ve always been powerful, beautiful, feminine, courageous, prayerful, creative and all we were purposefully created to be, by our loving Creator!
We are enough. We are not deprived, but preserved for God’s purposes, here on earth.
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