I was reflecting on a message my husband, our pastor, shared about the power we, as women, have to influence the world. We must choose how to use this power that God has given us. Women don’t have to be loud or in front of people; they should remain quiet in the public eye while their influence can spread far and wide.
A Quiet Power
Think back to Hannah and her silent, heartfelt prayer for a son. God answered her, and although she only raised Samuel at home for a few short years, she had a lasting impact on the entire nation of Israel through the values she instilled in him. Samuel became a great man of God, even having the privilege of anointing David as king. Hannah had a lot of power and used it for good, but said very little, in fact maybe nothing at all that the people In her town ever heard.
The scriptures instruct us as women to be quiet, shamefaced, meek, and submissive to our husbands and to keep the home. We’re not called to usurp or take authority over any man. At first glance, it may seem these instructions give us little voice, but how we conduct ourselves in our homes and public speaks volumes. We can model respect for our husbands, teaching our children how to respect their fathers and, in turn, how to respect God. Otherwise, if we fail to respect our husbands, we risk teaching our children to do the same. Since the husband is the head of the home—a reflection of Christ as the head of the church—if children lose respect for their fathers, they may struggle to respect Christ. Sisters, our voice can be amplified by how we behave and live out our roles.
Another powerful way we can make our voices heard is by supporting and encouraging our husbands, helping them to continue in, or even gain, salvation through our example and encouragement. As women, we are called to be helpers, but we can also discourage our husbands from seeking God through our actions. The world around us is watching, noting how our families behave publicly. We’ve all seen it before: children who show no respect for their parents, husbands and wives bickering, and families with dirty clothes and messy appearances. So often, the state of the family is a reflection of the wife or mother of the home. Even if your husband is not easy to respect, your virtue should not change. The Bible says that your good actions and words can win him.
If you are not part of a family, you can still encourage those around you through your conduct and words, guiding them to respect spiritual leaders and leading people to Christ. Thankfully, we are all a part of God's family. When you live right, the people around you will notice.
"Women don’t have to be loud or in front of people; they can remain quiet in the public eye while their influence can spread far and wide."
Proverbs 31:10-11 asks us a crucial question as women: “Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.” The chapter goes on to describe how this woman takes care of her family and clothes and feeds them, as well as cares for others in need. Then, the last verse of this chapter says, “Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Are you a virtuous woman? You don’t need to speak out publicly or be bold to be recognized. By doing what God has called us to do, we allow our works to praise us—simply doing what is right, minding our conduct, and caring for our family. Living this way speaks volumes to the world, for, after all, a virtuous woman is hard to find.
To all my fellow ladies—sisters—mothers, grandmothers, wives, or daughters—let’s make a pact to make a difference in our homes, congregations, and the community and change the generation coming up after us! Let’s use the power we’ve been given to be strong women of God in whatever role we play. Let’s teach our sons to be men of God and our daughters to harness the great power God has entrusted us as women to lead others toward Him, not away. Let’s be a help and encourage our husbands, our leaders, and all those around us to continue their service to God through our example and support. Let’s be a refreshing light that people see in our communities! With God’s help, we can do this!
Key Takeaway
My husband's message inspired me to do my part even more, and I wanted to share it with others. And do you know who taught my husband to preach these things? A godly mother. Today is the perfect time to start if you’re a woman who hasn’t been using your power of influence for good. And if you’ve been influencing in the wrong way, making that change today will allow those watching your life to see it, and the impact of your positive influence will begin right away!
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