Extraordinarily Ordinary: Women Making History
It’s often said that well-behaved women rarely make history. And quite frankly, where is the lie? From Rosa Parks to Kim Kardashian, there is an act of rebellion (or in Kim’s case, a scandal) that comes along with some of the most famous women in the world. I’ll be completely honest: some of these women’s stories make me wonder why I chose the long route to the road of success. They’re rolling around in their Beamer, Benz and Bentleys without a care in the world and zero student loans.
But what about the so-called “well-behaved” women? The so-called ordinary, plain rule-followers? When do we shine? How long do we have to work to attain even a morsel of success compared to those involved in a scandal or celebrities who millennials consider “toxic,” yet admirable? I have a hard time stomaching the idea that this world only rewards those who cause some type of disruption.
After pondering these questions, God checked me (as He often does) on two things. First, the world’s definition of success does not line up with God’s definition of success — and we need to act accordingly. The world defines success as Instagram likes, who you know and if you’re able to afford that Gucci belt. Meanwhile, God defines success as faithfulness and obedience to him: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine…” (Exodus 19:5 ESV) and in Luke 11:28 (NIV) when He says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” God never mentions one million followers or a Louis Vuitton bag as being the key to his kingdom.
Realistically, I get that it’s difficult to be an empowered woman in 2020 and not focus on becoming an executive at your company or going after the financial goals that social media lists for us every day. Not that those things aren’t important — but they shouldn’t be our priority. God uses Paul to warn us of the temptations of the world and who we should seek to please Galatians 1:10 (NIV): “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Secondly, God reminded me that he can use anyone to fulfill his purpose. It’s encouraging to read the Bible and see that God consistently uses ordinary women for extraordinary tasks.
One of the very first people to convert to Christianity was a woman. Acts 16: 11-15 tells the story of a businesswoman named Lydia who was the first to convert to Christianity under Paul’s ministry in Philippi. After Paul’s teaching, she brought God into her household, and is believed to spread his teachings to others in the community afterwards.
In the Old Testament, we see Elizabeth who can also be considered as a woman whose faithfulness allowed her to fulfill extraordinary things. Although she was barren for most of her life, she still served the Lord and was “righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees.” (Luke 1:6 NIV) The Lord rewarded her and chose her to bear a child when she was very old. As it turns out, she became the mother of the one and only John The Baptist: “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:14-15 NIV).
Lastly, God used women to discover Jesus’ empty tomb. It’s empowering to know that even though each one of Jesus’ disciples were men and men are given an immense amount of spotlight in the Bible, women were ultimately the first ones responsible for spreading the news of the resurrection. Matthew 28:8 (NIV) reads “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Jesus appears to the women in verse 10: “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me.” If that’s not an extraordinary task, I don’t know what is.
Even if you aren’t considered historic by society’s standards, God has chosen you and sees you as extraordinary: “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world …” John 15:19 (NIV) So I encourage you to take pleasure in your “plainness” and rest in your “rule-following” — God has a purpose designed for each and every one of us and even if you don’t make it in a history book, God has another book with your name on it.
“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”