Becoming a Mighty Woman of Valor
Judg 6:14-15
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”
15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord,* how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
NKJV
An inferiority complex. That is definitely what Gideon is saying back to the Almighty God. “I know you think you see something in me, but I am nothing. My family is the least important, and I am on the very bottom rung of the family ladder.”
Have you ever felt that way yourself? Perhaps you feel like everyone you come in contact with is prettier, smarter, better dressed, a better mother, etc. It is a horrible, and debilitating feeling.
People feel badly about themselves for lots of reasons- they were not praised as children; they were told they were no good; rejection in life has scarred them; the list is endless. But regardless of the origin of the problem, God is the solution!
Here Gideon’s people were being oppressed by the hateful Midians. They would swarm in and steal from the Israelites any food that they produced. Working so hard to plant and tend a crop, only to have it stolen from you, is enough to cause a learned helplessness mindset. But God had sent an angel to call Gideon to deliver the people from their hands. The Lord had already confirmed Gideon’s potential in verse 6:
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
Imagine that! One day you are just going about your usual business- washing clothes, cooking dinner, cleaning up after kids, when all of a sudden an angel shows up. “You mighty woman of valor! God is with you!” As much as I would like to see myself as a great woman of faith that would rise up and say, “Yes sir, that’s me!” I suspect that I would respond much like Gideon. I would be stunned, and immediately convinced that the Lord had the wrong person.
God has a remarkable destiny in mind for each one of us. We have a divine purpose that is greater than our talent or skill set. If we look within ourselves, as Gideon did, we will automatically dismiss such a confirmation. Our default setting is to know our own strengths and weaknesses and approach life from our understanding of that. But God wants to expand our worldview as well as our view of ourselves. He wants us to see who we can be in Him, not who we currently are within ourselves.
If we are to defeat the enemies that we face, we must believe what God is saying about us. We must become convinced of what He can do through us. A woman of valor is inside of you! You contain unlimited potential, strength, power, and faith. You need only to draw from the deep well that is resident within you, as a child of God.
Doubt you can do it? Afraid of the enemy? Unsure that you have the courage? Hear me, sister, oh yes, it is possible! He is greater! He is greater than anything you face, and He gives you authority over the enemies in your life.
Dear Lord, I ask for faith to arise within the heart of each person who reads this. I pray that a Holy Spirit “can do” attitude will prevail in their minds. Help us to overcome our weaknesses. Help us to move past a small view of ourselves, and especially of a small view of You. Forgive me, Lord, when I walk in disbelief rather than faith. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Help me to become a mighty woman of valor! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Wonderful post.
Powerful reminder that everything is possible with God. Thank you, Sherri, I needed to read that this morning.
Thanjk you for the soul enriching post, we all need to be reminded that we are powerful in God and He don’t make any junk, blessings Gloria