Walk in Greater Peace: Lessons From Those Who Came Before

She was barren for many years.

She gave her son away when he was just a tot.

She faced marital difficulties.

She lost nearly all of her family and felt compelled to leave the only land she knew.

She faced an excruciatingly difficult decision that had high stakes, and fear made her hesitant to act.

She became pregnant out of wedlock and faced great ridicule as she carried the baby boy.

Although all these situations occurred thousands of years ago, they sound suspiciously like events of today and perhaps like an event in your life. Maybe an event that continues to bring you great pain.

Life is not a smooth and clear path. It isn’t now and it wasn’t in biblical times when the women mentioned above lived. Hardships are real. Pain is sharp and often runs deep.

But isn’t it comforting to know they made it? Those women who went before us. Those who leaned on God, however imperfectly, to guide their lives. Those matriarchs of the faith.

These mentors of the Bible have much to teach us. Foremost is to hold onto our faith, no matter how difficult matters become.

Each woman mentioned above faced significant hardships and sorrow. Yet each came out of her struggles stronger and with greater peace and joy.

Because God is faithful.

God is Faithful

He gave Sarah the desires of her heart and gave her the strength to parent at age 100 (Genesis 21)!

He blessed Hannah with more children for her obedience (Samuel 1—2).

He brought Abigail through the trials with her husband, Nabal (1 Samuel 25).

He looked kindly at Ruth and Naomi as they struggled to survive as widows (Ruth).

He bolstered Esther and brought her wisdom and clarity (Esther 4, 5, 7).

He gave Mary the strength to endure a mother’s worst nightmare (John 19).

The Lord will be faithful to you too. Even now He is orchestrating the events in your life for good—no matter how it looks in the moment.

If the King can turn a bloody torturous death of crucifixion into a triumphant entry into eternal life, He can certainly flip around each of our hard situations as well. 

If God can turn a torturous death by crucifixion into a triumphant entry into eternal life, He can certainly help us Click To Tweet

And He promises to do just that. To orchestrate all things for our good. To grow and transform us through challenges, so we can better love and move closer to Him. 

Walk in Greater Peace

The Lord IS faithful. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will see you through this journey of life.

He was there for the biblical women of faith. I continually find Him there for me. You can rest assured, He will be there for you as well. 

So walk in greater peace: take your cue from the biblical matriarchs and put your trust in the sovereign and ever-faithful Prince of Peace. Choose today to lay your troubles at His feet. 

Like the biblical matriarchs did, trust in our sovereign, ever-faithful God. Choose to lay your troubles at His feet. Click To Tweet

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

Reflections: Which of the biblical women of faith do you most relate to? Why? 

Linking with Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience in 2013 with my Joy Dare list for Multitude Mondays (#2124–2144, read the entire list by clicking here):

• Skyping w/ Danny, & Rach blowing him kisses as we visited; My prayer warriors–such a comfort; Listening to God’s Smuggler
• Invincible attitude of young boys; Joey’s excitement at shooting his first deer; Gorgeous football weather
• Acorns cracked, next step flour; Visiting with Hannah about Rachel; Preparations complete for Parents as Presenters conference
• Outside this lovely day helping w/ 7th-grade outdoor ed; Safe travel to Des Moines w/ neat lady; Finished priority project
• Honored to be entrusted w/ the hearts of weary parents; Evening w/ two awesome ladies I see so seldom; Undying hope
• Day spent w/ parents who love their children thru the hardest trials; Sky shot thru w/ color; Blessings disguised
• Call from sweet elderly lady offering prayer for son Zach; Hubby found me a supply of catnip for winter: Given tomatoes to can

Also linking with this wonderful site:

By His grace ≈

Julie