The One Thing a Strong Woman Needs To Remember

The danger of being a strong woman is forgetting where our true strength lies.

The danger of being a strong woman is forgetting where our true strength lies. Click To Tweet

My hand in hers, I bent over her bed and rested my head on a pillow. I slumbered fitfully, waking often to nurses entering the room or my daughter’s whimpering as she stirred, confused and in pain. 

For 3 days I stayed by Rachel’s bedside, leaving only when someone insisted I take a break. It looked like I was muscling through my daughter’s recovery on my own strength.

Years ago that would have been the case, but no longer.

Rach and I weren’t the only two in that room during those long nights of her hospital stay. I had invited another. One who could and would carry us through.

The Breaking of a Strong Woman

As a young lady, I was an independently strong woman. Certain I could handle all that life threw at me.

Yet, thank God He showed me the cost of my independence—a hopeless heart—and the beauty of my surrender—persistent peace and joy. 

You see, being a strong woman isn’t all bad, but believing you can do it all on your own is.

Being a strong woman isn't all bad, but believing you can do it all on your own is. Click To Tweet

I could survive this life of raising a child with disabilities, the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages, the countless hardships that fill a sin-riddled world. I could survive … but I couldn’t live. 

To truly live, we all need a hope that’s beyond human understanding. An assurance of a strength that never wanes. A trust that’s anchored to something far more solid than what this world can offer.

To truly live, we must rest in the unshakable confidence of the Lord, not the flimsy hope of the flesh.

To truly live, we must rest in the unshakable confidence of the Lord, not the flimsy hope of the flesh. Click To Tweet

Great Loss, Greater Gain

I will always miss those five little ones that wait for me in heaven, but I’m grateful the Lord used my loss to give me great gain. He showed me what dependence on my own strength was costing me.

And as difficult as it is to raise a child with disabilities, I’m grateful God chose me. Because caring for this sweet blessing and planning for her future is an ongoing reminder of my need for One who is far stronger than I am. 

Without the continual bombardment of hard—hard in the unknown, hard in the known—I would saunter through life thinking I had all the answers.

I would miss the beautiful gift of God’s grace.

I would miss the peaceful shelter offered in the shadow of the Almighty.

I would miss the joy of knowing He has it when I fail.

Strong in the Lord

I’m still a strong woman. But even better, I’m growing into a woman strengthened by the Lord. And that’s a strength that will never fail.

In Isaiah 30:15, we are called to be still—to rest, to lie in quiet confidence as the Lord delivers us, makes a way for us, becomes our strength. Yet I still tend to run ahead too often, sure I know the way and have the strength to make it. But once again we are told: “Happy are all who wait patiently for Him”  (Isaiah 30:18d). 

Confidence is never fulfilled in our strength, because one day, in some circumstance, our strength will fail. Our confidence must be placed in the all-knowing, all-caring, ever-faithful Lord of the universe, whose power is all-sufficient and whose love is everlasting. 

Our confidence must be placed in the ever-faithful Lord, whose power is all-sufficient, whose love is everlasting Click To Tweet

Oh, Lord, help me rest in You … to be still in Your confidence … to trust in Your timing and strength. For You offer a confidence that lasts through all eternity!

“For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
‘You will be delivered by returning and resting;
your strength will lie in quiet confidence.
But you are not willing.’” Isaiah 30:15

Reflections: Are you a strong woman? Do you invite God into those hard times or rely on your strength alone? How did you come to place your confidence in the Lord? 

I’m excited to link up with my friend, Suzie Eller, for #livefreeThursday. Click here to read lots of encouragement. 

By His grace ≈

Julie