The Power of a Woman
by Dixie Bowman
Sentry Magazine, September 1999
As I grew from a child into womanhood, I often heard the phrase, "Never underestimate the power of a woman." I wasn't able to discover the source of this statement, but it would be interesting to know whether it came from the mind of a man or woman. Actually, I had not given much thought to its meaning or application until recently when it became clear.
I have had the privilege of being a Christian for many years and have had the opportunity to read and study material dealing with the subject of women and their role in the home, community, and the church. There have been many tender stories, articles, and phrases written about the role of mother. Emerson wrote, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." From Napoleon, "The future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother." "The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom," wrote Henry Beecher, while Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying, "All that I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother." These are but a few of the touching words that show how important a godly mother is. It is awesome to think of the power God has given the woman just in this area alone, but God never intended this power to be used for any kind of evil. God is good (Psalms 34:8; 145:9) and all that He created He Himself said, "And it was good" (Genesis 1:10-25).
In the Old and New Testaments, our Heavenly Father has given us both negative and positive examples of women, and the choices they made in using the gift of womanly power. It is obvious in a study of Jezebel that she will never see God. She is probably the foremost example of negative power. She spent her life destroying others. Look at the spiritual and emotional distress she caused God's prophet Elijah (I Kings 19:1-4). In I Kings 21 we read how she manipulated her husband King Ahab as well as the other men of the city to get what she wanted. There are other biblical examples of women who used both physical and mental power to destroy and it continues until this day.
It brings me to shame when I read Proverbs 6:25-26 and other similar Scriptures that warn men of the tremendous physical power a woman can have over them. Woman was created as a help meet for man (Genesis 2:18), to stand by his side, building up his strengths and helping him with his weaknesses. Never to divide and ruin.
I am also saddened when I see or hear of women who bring degradation to their gender by their lascivious lifestyles when our Lord gave His precious life that we might be lifted up to a place of honor. In past cultures as well as some that still exist today, women have not been held in honor. In this great country of opportunity and freedom, we take many things for granted, our place of honor being one of them. Virtue is often cast off, choosing rather, to reveal and selfishly exploit the beautiful bodies, minds, and spirits our omniscient Creator has given us.
If you have ever felt that you have no purpose or worth, remember that God did not create the woman as an afterthought, but with great care and intent. In His infinite wisdom, God knew man needed her (Genesis 2:18). She was the crowning glory of man as she was made from his very flesh (Genesis 2:21-23). God commanded the first man and woman to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28), but to the woman alone did He instill the power to bear another human being. The career of motherhood is still her highest calling and raising faithful, Godly children is of far greater value than anything they might accomplish academically or economically.
Our goal should be to bring glory to God through marriage. We even have the power to convert an unbelieving husband by the way we live our lives, (I Peter 3:1). We need to be using our homes for every manner of benevolence whether it be communicating with those who need encouragement, preparing food for the sick and grieving, or opening up our homes for hospitality and Bible studies. If you relate well to children, then become a teacher, a mentor, or counselor to those young and eager minds. The list is endless as to the power we hold in our hearts and minds to bring honor and exaltation to our God.
Some positive examples would be that of Mary the mother of our Lord. She was actually the mother of a very large family, (Mk. 6:3). Regardless of the erroneous teachings of Catholocism, Mary was never placed nor did she choose to place herself in any form of preeminence or authority nor do the scriptures ever suggest that she was or did. While she may not always have understood perfectly those things that took place during the life of her son, Jesus, the Christ, she never forgot who He was and often struggled to gather her thoughts and emotions (Luke 2:19, 51).
Ruth was a true woman of excellence. In reading through the strengthening book of Ruth one can see how she used God's gift of power through her love and devotion to others (Ruth 1:16-17; 2:11), becoming the mother of Obed, who was the grandfather of David, in the lineage of Jesus, (Ruth 4:11-17).
A true woman of God is one who uses her power to glorify Him is shown in Proverbs 31:10-31. She is definitely the standard of excellence every woman can measure herself by on a daily basis. In my opinion, there is nothing as beautiful as a godly woman. While her outward beauty may not compare as the world counts such things, she radiates a loveliness that permeates from deep inside her. This cannot be accomplished overnight but from a lifetime of living close to God. Remember, if you want to become a sweet little old lady you must first start by becoming a sweet little young lady.
As sisters in Christ, let us encourage one another to use the power God has given us by spreading true Christianity, beginning in our own homes, one child at a time, one husband at a time, one parent at a time, or wherever the need rests. Let us ask ourselves, "Do we want a life of mediocrity or a life of excellence?" Like our very creation, it will not happen simply by chance but with a total commitment to know and do God's divine will. Visualize yourself as you want to be. Think about your present life and service to our Heavenly Father. Pray the prayer of David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1).
