Right now, everyone is talking about Christian women and our permitted roles in the church and society. With all of the recent news and trending content on social media, it is a tough time to be a Christian woman.

I’ve read many of the comments on social media and they are heartbreaking. Many women, who feel called into ministry, feel condemned and judged by certain religious institutions.

I want to remind you of an important verse in the Bible that reminds us of our freedom as Christians. When God calls us to take on a certain role or position, it isn’t up to the world to define what that means. In the end, we answer to God and not man.

I went through something similar when I ran for office. I was repeatedly told, as a woman, that my place was in the home. It shocked and surprised me to be on the receiving end of these types of comments. There were plenty of them directed at me and my family. I was judged solely for my gender and my qualifications were deemed irrelevant. These kinds of comments and judgements were often given to me by other Christians, which was even more discouraging.

In the face of a very difficult run, God brought me through that experience. When important political people constantly shut doors in my face, I kept moving forward. Even when people told me I should join the PTA or Junior League instead, I kept pressing forward. When I was told I was a selfish mom for running, I kept my focus on God. It wasn’t an easy time, but I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to get to know God in an entirely new way. I didn’t let the situation change me, instead, I brought change to the situation and showed a Godly example at every opportunity.

It’s easy to be a Christian when everything is comfortable. However, as Christians, we are often called to leave our comfort zones. Christian women can bring all kinds of unique skills and experiences to the world, especially, in ministry. There are many hurt women out there who only want to talk to other women. Many struggling new mothers want to hear Godly advice from other women who’ve been in the trenches. There is a great demand, and God has powerfully equipped many women to meet it.

Most of the time, the world doesn’t understand what God calls us to do, and that’s totally okay. In the end, when I stand before God, I want to have lived a life that followed His lead. I hope all Christian women will follow God’s calling for their lives. Sometimes, a step out in faith may run counter to everyone else’s opinion. As long as you stay in prayer, read your Bible and keep your eyes on God, you can do it. Please don’t let anyone discourage you from your calling.

During my challenging time, I often listened to Lisa Bevere. She put out an insightful article on the topic of women in ministry. I encourage you to check it out—The Great Commission is Your Permission

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While we can’t predict when a storm in life will approach, we can prepare ahead of time. We all will face a storm at some point. Living in Texas, I’ve become a storm preparation expert.

When you live in a hurricane zone, you get used to it. It becomes a part of everyday life. You buy flood insurance, keep the necessary supplies on hand, know which news channels to watch and always have a plan.

Shouldn’t other storms in life warrant the same preparation? We’ve got the spiritual tools to always stay ready: prayer and the Bible. We can stay vigilant and watch for approaching storms and equip ourselves through prayer and by reading the Bible. Sometimes, I know it can be tough. When I’m in the middle of the worst of it, I let doubt settle in and don’t want to open my Bible. I get disappointed and resentful that I’m experiencing another hardship. After going through many storms in life, I’ve learned that regardless of how stubborn I want to be, I eventually learn that God was always in control. The storm would have been much easier on me had I just accepted it and prayed my way through it. Instead, I try to figure things out and spend my time telling God that life’s too unfair.

Like the real weather-related storms, I’ve learned to stay prepared. When I see a spiritual storm approaching, I’m ready. While I’m not perfect, I’ve learned to engage my spiritual tools to get thorough it.

It’s important to rely on a process when the storms of life threaten to tear us to shreds. We can look to God for guidance, avoid pitfalls like worry/distress and know the warning signs when things look to overwhelm us. We can ask a trusted friend or family member for prayer and support when things get too hard.

Most importantly, God is always there to help us through whatever we may face.

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

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I can’t tell you how many times in my life someone has told me I’m not qualified to do something. Whether it was my run for Congress, or just doing anything big in general, there are always people willing to give their opinion.

When God tells us to do something, qualifications do not matter. I have a bunch of degrees and work experience, and yet, God is the only qualification that counts.

God has put me in rooms and situations where it was blatantly evident He was the one who sent me the invitation. I’ve gotten up on stages and made speeches in spite of being told a woman doesn’t belong in politics. Even though it was hard, with God by my side, I got up and did those things anyway. When God calls us to do something, we can freely enter any room and do anything, regardless of the opinion of others.

When I was younger, I let the negative comments get to me. I gave value to people who didn’t warrant it. I based my self worth on the feedback and input of people I can no longer remember. Isn’t that funny? We put so much importance on what other people think, and we let it hold us back.

When you are a Christian, you don’t need any qualifications to do what you are called to do in this life. God has given all of us unique talents and abilities.

If you think about David, he was the last person on earth that society thought was fit to defeat Goliath. They laughed at him and acted like he didn’t matter. However, David was the true giant in the story. Against all odds, he rose up and defeated a monster of a man with the most rudimentary of tools.

Don’t let other people hold you back. You only need the approval of God to do big things. Don’t give license to people who don’t matter in the big picture of God’s plan.

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This world can be a very dark place. It is full of people who are angry, mean, rude, etc. Everyone everywhere seems to have a lot more problems than usual. Not to mention, we just came out of an unprecedented period of time where we were shut off from the rest of the world and each other. It can be really difficult to stay positive and Godly in spite of living in such a difficult time.

For us, though, we don’t have to lean on our own strength to survive and shine our lights. We can rely on God to enable us to do whatever we are called to do in this world.

Regardless of our unique paths, as Christians, we are all called to bring light into the darkness.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

What is light? If you look at Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, there are a lot of definitions. However, let’s consider the verbs, because as women, we are people of action. The verb definitions that surround light mean to illuminate, brighten or to ignite something. Isn’t that a great way to definite it?

If you think about light in terms of action, you can see that we can view ourselves as catalysts for positivity, change, and exemplifying God’s love to the world.

Why not ask God to show you ways to shine His light into our dark world? With your unique skills and talents, no one can shine God’s light in the exact way that you can through your life.

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I was recently in someone’s office and saw numerous awards with the title “Woman of Distinction.” The sight made me start thinking about the meaning behind this award winning title.

Are you a woman of distinction? If you are a believer, then by nature you are of distinction to God. It may be counter culture, but in the eyes of the world, I wouldn’t value this title. Distinction is a very subjective word. It can have a different meaning to a variety of organizations or people. Those meanings might not align with God’s purpose or vision for my life.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

To be distinct means to be different and to stand out. There is no better place to be distinct than in leadership. You can lead others by your example. You may be surprised, but people are always watching. You never know who you will inspire. Whether it’s as a volunteer, at home or in the workplace, you can set a Godly example for others. There are so many ways to exhibit this type of leadership. God has given each of us the unique ability to live by example. Here are just a few ways you can show others what you are all about. You can be an ethical person in an unethical environment. You can speak the truth when others make regular false claims. You can be kind toward others even when they are unkind to you. You can help the less fortunate. You can dedicate your time to doing good.

To me, a woman of distinction is one who puts others before herself. She is steadfast in her faith and dedication to doing good. She puts God first. She has integrity and a forthright character. Regardless of how the world changes around her, she remains the same.

How are you a woman of distinction?

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I don’t buy into this narrative. There are plenty of people who put in the necessary time and effort and don’t make it to the top.

To me, a successful person is someone who still shows up. She shows up when there isn’t anything in it for her. She is there for the people who need her. She gives back, even when it is hard.

There are so many women who keep our communities, families and companies glued together. They lead by example. They put in the same, if not more than, the amount of effort and dedication as the people who make it to the top.

Why do we value those who make it big? Why not give that type of consideration and recognition to the people in our lives who are “top” to us. Why not see yourself as a success by standards other than your bank account?

From a young age, we learn that success is based on income. This is a really shallow translation. There are so many other ways to judge success.

Think about the people in your life that you can always count on. What about the people who are closest and most important to you? Those individuals are the real success stories.

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

I don’t know about you, but I would rather those closest to me think I am a success than the people online who judge me by unattainable worldly standards.

I want to be a successful, authentic person to the people in my life. As I get older, I’m starting to realize that when it comes to judging success, money is not even on the list.

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My sister tells a hilarious story. One day when my niece was younger, my sister decided to take a nap before she had to run errands. When she woke up from her nap, she packed up the car and her daughter and headed out. She spent several hours going from store to store. When she got home, she happened to glance in the mirror. To her astonishment, her face was covered with stickers.

She had been out all afternoon in public with stickers all over her face. My niece had stuck them to her face while she was sleeping. Isn’t it funny that she didn’t notice? She went about her day and did whatever she needed to do without giving her appearance a second thought. If someone would have pointed them out, she would have been embarrassed and would have quickly removed them.

This reminds me of Adam and Eve. They didn’t realize they were naked until they interacted with the serpent. He made them feel embarrassment. He convinced them to hate their appearances and the life God had created for them.

Do you look at yourself through the eyes of this world or social media? As Christians, we are supposed to look at ourselves the way God sees us. By doing so, we can gain confidence that we have a purpose.

“9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 1: 9-10

So, if God loves us enough to send His son to die for us, and that means there isn’t any one thing, person, situation or circumstance that can change that fact, why are we so hard on ourselves? Why do we focus on the bad things about ourselves, instead of God’s love for us?

I don’t know about you, but I would certainly like to see myself the way God sees me. If I look to this world for my confidence, I will never measure up. However, I take my confidence in knowing that, to God, I am always more than enough.

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God doesn’t want us to worry. It is counter to His culture. One of the main components of a serious Christian faith is trust. It is important to trust God and His plan for our lives. When I’m worried, I’m showing God (and others) that I don’t trust Him.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-26

Instead of trying to worry about each part of a problem or situation, it is important to give it to God. He is the one who Has the overall plan our lives. He sees what we cannot see. We can only see a very small snapshot of what He has in store for us.

I know it is hard not to worry. I’m trying to stop doing it. Instead of worrying my way through a problem, I am, instead, working on praying my way through it.

There isn’t any positive impact of worry on our lives. It makes us sick, stressed and focused on fear of the unknown. We ask “what if” and try to figure everything out. However, God wants to show us a different way of living.

“But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:33-34

I don’t know about you, but I want the Creator of the world to take the steering wheel, and I would love to sit in the back seat to enjoy the journey. God doesn’t need us to be backseat driver’s on the road of life.

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When you go through difficult times in life, things can seem bleak. In our internet age, it is even harder, when everyone else appears to have the picture perfect life. It seems like whenever you are going through a certain hardship, everyone else online is having success in that very same area.

As I’m facing challenges this year, I’ve been unable to find answers or advice that have given me complete peace. A lot of the Christian influencers and people online talk about hard times they “overcame” many years ago or at some point in the past.

But what about those of us who are currently enduring a really drawn out and prolonged hard time? What if it has lasted not weeks or months…but years? There is no past tense for people who are currently “overcoming” seemingly unending challenges. Have you experienced something similar?

When things get hard, I often turn to resources and others. Even though I’m a big prayer, I rarely crack open my Bible until I’m really desperate for guidance and/or encouragement. It’s ironic that the most important resource is right there in front of me, and I don’t go to it first. I know many of you are the same.

For me, my life doesn’t exactly look like I thought it would or imagined. I’m in my mid-40s, and I thought I would be in a different place professionally. I worked really hard on a major endeavor and, due to circumstances completely out of my control, things didn’t turn out as I had planned. However, it was more than just a disappointment.

Have you experienced a situation that involved more than just one disappointment…where there are so many hurtful components they can seem overwhelming?

This is a good verse when times get tough. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

This verse tells me that, regardless of what I may face in life, I can rest assured that, with God, things will work out at some point. It may not be today or tomorrow, but at some point, my challenges will lead to God’s accomplishments.

So, in the meantime, I’m doing my best to “overcome” and maintain faith that something good will come out of a circumstance that has been extremely challenging. I don’t want to be in the “overcoming” stage for too much longer. Life is very short, and I look forward to a day, with God’s help, when I, too, can say I “overcame.”

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When things get tough, do you grab a shovel and start digging a ditch? I don’t mean this in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. When one thing goes wrong, we can start the bad process of digging a tiny hole. Before too long, as things continue to spiral, we can find ourselves at the bottom of a cavern. It can seem like there is no way out. The more we press into negative thoughts and feelings, the harder we dig.

Instead of digging a ditch, consider another option. Regardless of whether you have control of your circumstances and outcomes, you can directly impact how you respond to things. For me, even when times are at their hardest, I turn to my faith. It helps me to move past any obstacle by knowing that God has a plan for my life. There is a well known and very simple Bible verse that can shine a lot of light, even into your darkest circumstances.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

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