Scripture: Judges 4:4-9

4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

9 “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

Kingdom Women are Empowered

The Crisis Among Women

There’s a crisis happening among women today where we believe the lie that we should carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. We live and believe as if everything is dependent on us and that if we don’t meet the expectations of others, then we won’t be loved, we won’t be enough and we will be rejected.

It is in this crisis moment, in this moment where the lies of the enemy are so loud and the weight of the world is breaking our backs, that I want to speak about what it means to be a Kingdom Woman.

The Unique Challenges Women Face

As women, we are almost always thinking about and preparing for the next crisis, and we are in need of a fresh vision of what it looks like to be a woman in the Kingdom of God.

Just listen to some of the stats surrounding the challenges that women face more often than men:

• Mental Health: Women are statistically more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety compared to men. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, women are 1.3 times more likely to attempt to commit suicide than men in the US.
• Work-life balance: Women often struggle more with balancing work and family responsibilities. We are more likely to be in caregiving roles, which impacts our careers and our ability to receive promotions.
• Health Challenges: Reproductive health problems and autoimmune diseases affect women more frequently or differently than men. For instance, medical insurance is more expensive for women than it is for men. There’s also significant underrepresentation of women in clinical trials and medical research which impacts the development of effective treatments and healthcare for women.
• Violence and Safety: Women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence. One in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime; whereas about 1 in 10 men have experienced this same kind of violence.
• Economic Opportunities: Women often face barriers to entrepreneurship and economic opportunities, including limited access to capital and networks. And the gender pay gap, where women often earn less than men for similar work, continues to be an issue. Women in the US earn about 82 cents to every dollar earned by men, and if you add in race, the disparity is even greater.
• Body image: Because of the history of male-dominated societies and the objectification of women, we face greater pressures related to body image and beauty standards.

Suffice it to say, women, there are a lot of things in our society that we must contend with and many things stacked up against us.

Two Extremes: Zola the Zealot and Debbie the Doormat

As with anything, there are often two extremes in dealing with these challenges or problems. On one side, you have Zola the Zealot. She takes on the mantle of fighting the system, speaking truth to power and confronting many of these injustices, which is often much needed. However, while holding this posture and fighting against these injustices, Zola the Zealot leads with emotional independence, lack of openness, and struggles to be vulnerable. She often keeps others, especially men, at an arm’s length or locked out of her life. Zola the Zealot can find herself extremely isolated and lonely.

On the other side, we have Debbie the Doormat. She remains quiet or even silent, and she doesn’t know who she is apart from the men in her life. Debbie the Doormat stays in the shadows. She’s lost all sense of herself, she doesn’t know her worth, and her unique identity, calling, and purpose is nowhere to be found.

We see and criticize each of these extremes. And, I can tell you as a woman, serving as a pastor for 25 years, as a mom for almost 16 years, and as someone who loves Jesus more than anyone or anything else, I often believe the lies and I can oscillate between these extremes, sometimes within a day, or an hour.

The enemy is very busy trying to get us as women to believe that we are not loved, that we don’t have value or worth, to get us to question our identity in Christ and to get us to believe that we must fight the battle on our own.

Embracing the Call of a Kingdom Woman

And yet, Jesus speaks a different word. God is eager to help every woman see their value and their worth through Him. To help each of us see ourselves the way that He sees us.

Scripture helps bring clarity to the truth that flows from the Kingdom of God about who we are as women.

Created in God’s Image

Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'”

We see that from the beginning, God created us male and female. Our sex and gender were given by God as a core part of who we are. Male and Female, we’re different and yet hold equal value and worth in God’s eyes. And, most importantly, we are a reflection of God. We are made in His image and likeness. It is God’s desire for us to look like Him and have His characteristics. Women, you are made in the image of God. You reflect the Lord. It’s a tremendous honor and responsibility and we can only fully live into that when we know that truth.

Uniquely Crafted for Purpose

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

There’s nothing like seeing someone who is really gifted at their craft. Whether they are a dancer, a musician, a surgeon or a carpenter. When you watch them do what they do, it’s like an art form. When they are operating out of their gifting and calling, it is like magic. They make it look easy and we know that it’s not. And you know that someone who is skilled and crafted at their craft didn’t just get there overnight. They’ve had years of training, learning, and developing. They’ve grown into their craft. Women, God is the master artist, and He is crafting you as his piece of art. You are God’s masterpiece. You were created with purpose, and you have been given a unique role and good work to do on this earth that only you can do. And just as it is with any craft, it takes time and years of learning, growth, and development to become skilled at your calling. This process of crafting and development often includes God using the unique challenges we face as a process of sanctification and becoming more like Jesus.

Welcoming God’s Invitation

When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, He revealed her worth and dignity and invited her to experience a living water that would never run dry (John 4:10-14). He invited her into a relationship with Him that would sustain her and fulfill her like nothing else. God is extending the same invitation to each of us today. He invites us to know Him, to trust Him and to partner with Him in bringing His Kingdom here on earth.

Practical Steps for Embracing the Kingdom Woman Call

1. Seek God First: Make time each day to read scripture, pray, and meditate on God’s word. Allow Him to speak truth into your life and reveal your worth in Him.
2. Find Community: Surround yourself with other women who are also seeking to live out their calling as Kingdom Women. Encourage and support each other in your journeys.
3. Identify Your Gifts: Spend time discovering and developing the unique gifts and talents God has given you. Ask God to show you how you can use them to serve others and bring glory to His name.
4. Set Healthy Boundaries: Learn to say no to things that are not aligned with God’s purpose for your life. Protect your time, energy, and mental health by setting boundaries that allow you to focus on what truly matters.
5. Embrace Vulnerability: Allow yourself to be open and vulnerable with others, especially in your relationships with other women. Share your struggles and victories, and be willing to ask for help when you need it.

Conclusion

Women, you are loved, you are valued, and you are called to be a Kingdom Woman. Let us lean into this truth and embrace the journey God has for us. As we seek to reflect His image, fulfill our unique purpose, and partner with Him in His Kingdom work, we will experience the fullness of life that He desires for us.


A Kingdom Woman is: A woman who lives under the authority of Christ and is empowered by the Holy Spirit to honor God in every area of life.

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