A little girl sits cross-legged
while playing with her beloved stuffed bear, Fuzzy. Her mother is in the
kitchen making pancakes while her father sits on the couch next to her flipping
through channels on the television. Little girl is content. She loves Saturdays,
and pancakes, and Fuzzy. Father’s program cuts to commercials and little girl
looks up. On the screen is what appears to be a flawless woman with long legs
and yellow hair. She is being chased by a handsome gentleman. They embrace each
other. They look so happy. In that moment little girl becomes aware of her
undeveloped body and curly brown hair. She will forever associate beauty with
the flawless couple that frolicked on the screen.
We were children when we first
started to build our definitions of what womanhood meant. While the television
was often a dominant educator, we also watched our mothers, and older sisters,
and friends to understand who we are, and what we will be. Some images
empowered us, and others crippled us. And at some point in our lives we must
choose the kind of woman we will be. Some will fixate their eyes on beauty, and
others wealth. Some will use their womanhood to birth a lineage, and others
will dedicate their lives to seeking justice. For each of us, there is a deep sense
and longing for more. Unfortunately, some women have been told to, “be quiet,”
or “let a man do it” for so long, that they have become lost to this calling.
It is extremely easy to get swept
away in the noise and let false perceptions define you. That is why we want to
go to the source of our womanly nature—the author of our very being. Through
this series we will be unleashing the vast ways of being a God-authored
heroine.
Heroine. The word is literally defined as, “A woman noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.” She is strong. She is fierce. She is unstoppable.
Contrary to popular belief, God
loves using women in His story. Scripture is filled with examples of this—Esther,
Ruth, Rahab, Mary, just to name a few. He loved using the unlikeliest of people
to carry out His will and to be heroines in their time. They defied cultural
norms, risked their lives, and took immense leaps of faith to fight for what
they believed in. They embodied courage, bravery, and spirit.
It’s easy to look at these women
and marvel at their stories and how the Lord used them to make history, but
dismiss that same possibility for our own lives. However, there are endless
doors of possibility waiting to be opened by the girl who unlocks the potential
that God has given her.
She who sees her womanhood as a
gift and not an obstacle. She whose character surpasses her beauty. She whose
spirit lights the way for others. She who believes the Lord can use her. These
are the heroines of our day.
I truly believe that God deeply
enjoyed making the woman. Woven in our personhood are the sincerest and most
loving characteristics of God. The Lord delights in using the woman. She is His
secret weapon and one of His most treasured creations. He grieves when she is
oppressed. He rejoices when she is glad. He loves her and is for her.
A God-authored heroine is a woman of enormous character. She loves life, yet holds it loosely. She is always receptive to learning and is always searching for the Lord in every corner of her life.
“She is clothed with
strength and dignity,
and
she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25
As God-authored heroines, it is
important that we believe in each other and encourage one another. We must
highlight more than our sister’s cute shoes, and instead, note her character.
We must search deep within our sisters to see their unique strengths and gifts,
and lift those up. We must build up what was torn down. When we begin to
reconstruct our views of our own womanhood and the women around us, we free
ourselves to truly loving one another. We rid ourselves of envy and jealousy
that has so often robbed us of our joy and confidence.
It is time that we stopped looking
at our womanhood as a curse, or an excuse, or an obstacle, and instead saw it
as a gift from the heavens. May we not get stuck looking back that we never
move forward. May we use our words to lift up and heal one another. May the
Spirit fill us with dreams bigger than our fragile frames that they may overflow
into the hearts of others.
We invite you to explore what being
a God-authored heroine means in your life. It is our prayer that you would be
open to hearing from the Lord to see how He can use your story and womanhood in
this world. May these words light a spark in your heart. There is unimaginable
adventure in store for she who embarks the life of the God-authored heroine.
“It is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has
heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for
those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9
STEPHANIE
MCGRAW
I
am a girl, growing every day into shoes too big. I’m a dreamer, always have
been. I’ve loved many art forms, but the written word is by far my favorite. I
have come to adore the infinite possibilities that characters and syllables and
punctuations strung together can become. I believe we are all storytellers and
that we all have very special, very unique perspectives begging to be shared
and heard. Words have the power to inspire us to do remarkable, courageous
things. They sometimes lift our spirit and make us laugh. Other times they make
us cry and see the world differently. Words can help us heal and grow stronger.
Just
like I am a young woman becoming my own, my story is unfolding with the
passing days. I don’t want to miss a beat. I want to savor every word on every
page of this story that is my life. I want you to be part of it. To hear my
heart. To laugh with me, cry with me, grow with me. I want to hear your story,
too. Let’s have a conversation. Let’s love each other well, and use our words
wisely to change our worlds for the better.
For
me, I believe that this life is far too complex and beautiful to not have an
author. I adore my Creator, and am learning from Him and about Him each day. It
is for His glory that I write. He’s the truest inspiration.
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