Cozy. Safe enough to explore a feisty topic like courage. Strengthened enough to go out there and do it!
That’s what I felt while I was reading through La-Tan Roland Murphy’s latest book, Courageous Women of the Bible.
La-Tan didn’t cover all the usual suspects, the women who are typically lauded as courageous women in the Bible. Hint: she shared about five women whose names we are not given in the Bible! I liked that. She picked ordinary women with ordinary issues who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. These are women I can relate to!
I can see courage in me better when I see it as a friend rather than as a trait men develop as they go to literal wars to fight enemies overseas. Click To TweetThe safety and power began to surge in my heart just from reading the Introduction. I liked that she likened courage to a friend: “While fear paralyzes, courage mobilizes beyond our circumstances—like a best friend telling us we can keep going” (p. 9). I can see courage in me better when I see it as a friend rather than as a trait men develop as they go to literal wars to fight enemies overseas.
And I really liked when she told us, not with loud bravado, but a gentle and confident smile, “When we cannot do it all perfectly, we can do all that we do courageously (p. 13).”
Let me share about my favorite character from this book, Abigail. La-Tan painted the background of how a beautiful woman with integrity got the grit to save her entire household from her stupid husband’s crass dismissal of the future king of Israel, David himself (1 Samuel 25:2–38).
Friend, godly character can’t be tucked away; it’s on display—for the world to see—whether we are outspoken or shy. I think Abigail’s integrity spoke for itself.
I realize your goal in life might not be to become a leader; I’m not sure it was Abigail’s either. But when others see character, integrity, and courage in you, they automatically see a leader too! Abigail’s story should give us the desire to become the best version of ourselves we can possibly be, knowing others are depending on us to have big courage when life gets hard.(p. 77)
La-Tan talked about how the dusty road Abigail traveled could not hide her true beauty as she looked up from being face down in the dirt. And how dusty circumstances cannot hide our true beauty.
And she shared a humorous story about what she did to her brand new, adorable wedge shoes at the airport when they really began hurting her feet and her Lamaze breathing didn’t help her. Her parallel? “It’s the walk that’s the true test and often the most painful in our faith journey. What about you? Do you throw away your spiritual shoes in the trash when life gets hard? Abigail didn’t” (p. 83).
I loved how she talked about each of the eleven women, the difficulties they ran up against, and the victories they attained by finding courage when each didn’t think they could do it, but just had to. I did not expect to have such an emotionally comforting and yet energizing response to La-Tan’s book.
Ladies, I suggest that, if like LaTan did (it was the reason she wrote the book), you want more courage in your heart and godly women to look up to, read her book, Courageous Women of the Bible. It won’t disappoint. You can get some steel in your soul from this hearty reading and join the rest of us cowards-turned-strong!
NOTE: I’m giving away a free copy of this book this week on Instagram! If you would like enter my giveaway, head on over to @glendaggordon and follow my simple directions. Best wishes to you!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
