She Believed She Could, So She Did

Speaking Light, Life and Love into Our Sisters’ Lives

Translated in Spanish by Major Martina Cornell

As an avid gardener, I am always looking for new ways to strengthen my plants. I add chopped banana peels to the soil, water them with club soda and sprinkle used tealeaves at their base. My interest was certainly piqued when I read a study that suggested plants grow faster and stronger when you speak kindly to them, rather than not speak to them at all. Really? It makes a difference if you speak kindly to them? Plants also grow faster and stronger in a room with a recording of someone shouting as opposed to a room with silence. This shows that it is not necessarily the kind words the plants are responding to but sound vibrations.

While plants may not be able to differentiate the content of sound, people certainly do. Experience indicates that when we take every opportunity to speak light, life and love into the lives of others, they will grow and blossom into who God created them to be. In terms of developing women leaders, this concept is absolutely critical. Affirmation and encouragement matter. When the traditional leadership structure does not reflect who women see when they look in the mirror, the light, life, and love they feel from their sisters empower them to get up, show up, and step up into their God-ordained roles. What does speaking light, life and love into your sisters’ lives look like? I believe it is three–fold:

God Believed She Could, So She Did

First, as we develop women leaders, we must help them to understand how fiercely God loves them and the precious value He places on their lives. In her book What God Really Thinks of Women, Sharon Jaynes provides the context of Jesus’ ministry: “By the time Jesus took His first steps on the dusty ground of Galilee, women were not allowed to talk to men in public, testify in court, or mingle with men at social gatherings. They were considered sensual temptresses and the chief cause of sexual sin. Women were considered a ‘lower animal species.’ Men divorced their wives on a whim and tossed them out like burnt toast. Women lived in the shadows of society, and they were rarely seen and seldom heard. Much like a slave, a girl was the property of her father and later the property of her husband. Women were uneducated, unappreciated, and uncounted” (p. 12).

Truly, Jesus entered the world during a time and in a place where women were marginalized. However, He did not let the norms of the day define Him. Instead of avoiding the shadows, He stepped into the shadows, shined a light, and beckoned the marginalized women to Him. To the woman who had been crippled for over eighteen years, Jesus called her forth, and healed her (Luke 13:10–12). Mary was welcomed as a disciple who chose what was right (Luke 10:38–42). To the women on resurrection morning, Jesus gave the privilege of being the first witnesses of His resurrection (Mark 16:9–11, John 20:11–18). Jesus compassionately received the touch of the woman who bled for twelve years (Luke 8:43–48).

In the first century, Jesus valued women and brought them to the forefront. He still values women, equipping them to serve and lead, and raising them up for such a time as this. When we help our sisters understand His radical belief in them, we speak light, life and love into their lives, and empower them to get up, show up, and step up into their God-ordained roles.

We Believe She Could, So She Did

Second, as we develop women leaders, we must help them to understand how much we believe in them. Women come in all shapes and sizes and bring a variety of talents and gifts to the kingdom of God. As women leaders, our role is not to define others’ roles but to help them embrace who God has called them to be. Some will serve through a teaching role; others will function well in an administrative position, while others will powerfully speak through a preaching role. Some women are most effective in a behind–the–scenes role. Regardless of their role, our responsibility is to support them and help them grow, providing encouragement and effective tools for their journey to be the best they can be (1 Thess. 5:11).

Knowing there is someone who believes in them and cheers them on is a great balm for the soul, providing strength and support when the road is bumpy and dark. When we help our sisters understand our belief in them, we speak light, life, and love into their lives, and empower them to get up, show up, and step up into their God ordained–roles.

Finally, as we develop women leaders, we must help them understand how much they must believe in themselves. The world is full of unrealistic, air–brushed images. The pages of magazines, social media posts and television images portray an inauthentic world, one seemingly designed to make women feel they are not good enough, pretty enough, or strong enough. These images are unrealistic. Instead of focusing on these images, our sisters must strive to be the best version of themselves—no one else. When they are the best version of themselves, God takes their ordinary talents and makes them extraordinary for His glory. Their job is not to be perfect. In fact, God is glorified, even the more, in their imperfections (2 Cor. 12:9). It is not perfection but faithfulness that He seeks in His children (Rom. 8:28).

When women long for faithfulness rather than perfection, great freedom and a belief in oneself comes in return. When we help our sisters understand the importance of believing in themselves, we speak light, life and love into their lives, and empower them to get up, show up, and step up into their God–ordained roles.

Will you commit to speaking light, life and love into your sisters’ lives today?