Hey, this is for women only! Men, read at your own risk!

All you women out there...have you ever given much thought to the heart of God for women? In 2001-2002 I took the course, “Five Aspects of Woman” and that study began to change my thinking. I have never believed nor thought that God looked down on woman or that he thought her lesser than man or animals. I had simply not thought about it at all!

Through the years there is one verse that speaks to me about God’s heart for women. It is an obscure verse that probably has never been mentioned in conjunction with this particular topic. It is found in John 20:16 and it says, “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’” EVERY time I read that verse my heart melts and I sigh. Maybe it is because I imagine the tone of voice Jesus used with Mary. Not one of frustration because she didn’t get it or one of impatience because he had places to go and people to shock. But I am positive his tone was one of deep tenderness, deep love, and a deep desire to show her heart that all was well. And she got it with just her name. And I don’t think it was just that fact that he knew her name that clued her in. I think it was the way he said her name.

I don’t want to be fearful of my role. Or uncertain in it. Or, if I am truly honest, I don’t want to continue to fail in it. I feel like maybe I have failed more than I have succeeded but I am not certain. But God has been faithful. He has mentored me, through his word and through women who speak into my life every so often.

There are many verses that – obscure or not – speak about women. Most of the ones in Proverbs show us what a cranky woman looks like and therefore challenge me to change! But God’s heart – God’s design – for women is most clearly seen in Genesis. It is where woman enters, woman fails, and woman is redeemed. Genesis 2:18, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ “And after looking through the animals God had created Adam still felt incomplete. So God created woman. I am a helper-completer. 1 Corinthians 11:7b-9 says, “…. but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” I see New Testament examples of this in Matthew 26:7 when the woman came to Jesus and ministered to him by anointing his head with fragrant perfume. That ministry is part of that helper-completer role she was (and I was and you were) created for. Also in Matthew 27:55. Jesus had women follow him to specifically care for him and meet his needs. What a beautiful picture of “suitable helper!”

There’s a verse that caught my attention as I was studying. Jeremiah 31:22b. The context really refers to the woman being Israel but what caught me was the way she was described and the role she was playing. “The Lord will create a new thing on earth – a woman will surround a man.” I studied that a little more and the idea there in the word “surround” is to embrace or to protect. Woman was created in part to protect the man and to embrace him when the world presses in. I came across an interesting poem that was penned back in 2000. And a part of it describes a woman’s role in the following way:

“From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man’s life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart.”

God knew Lanny needed a woman and for reasons I may never get he thought (okay, he knew) I was the woman Lanny needed. Honestly, there is a part of me that sees how I am Lanny’s “protection” or his “rib” so to speak. Lanny has a tender heart and I think that sometimes I do provide the strength he needs.

God did create woman with this amazing strength yet at times this almost unbearable fragility. What I see as stubbornness in myself is most likely strength that is God-given. When I am tempted to walk away and some encourage me to walk away, somewhere deep in me I find the strength to dig in my heels and refuse to walk. That has to be God’s strength in me.

35 years ago God said my name and I was. “Beth” – depending on the Greek or Hebrew it means either “House of God” or “Consecrated to God.” I’ve been thinking about the meaning of my name lately. “Better is one day in your courts; better is one day in your house. Better is one day in your courts than thousand elsewhere.” My name means I am his house. I am his. He called my name and I was set apart. He created me in his image. So that means that the hazel eyes, the dark hair, the nose I don’t really care for, the eyes I have discovered I do like, the feet I like, etc are all created in his likeness. Hmm. I’m still not sure how that makes me feel. Oddly like crying.

He created me for specific responsibilities. Okay, daughter – sister – wife – mom – friend. Those are the “givens.” What outside of that? Well, here’s where I get reluctant to admit too much more because I don’t know if I am thinking too highly of myself or not! I think he created me to be a helper-completer to not just my husband but to others. I am a good helper-completer. It's a gift...I think! :)

God has been growing me - stretching me actually - in the area of spiritual life-giving. Sometimes the things I say shock even me! God must be using my mouth (at times) to speak his heart. Someday I hope to be known as a woman of wisdom. I especially want to be known for receiving it; I think imparting it is then made easier.

“Beth.” God’s voice says my name. He is not filled with frustration because I’m not getting it or filled with impatience because he’d rather be elsewhere working with someone else who might be easier. But I am positive his tone is one of deep tenderness, deep love, and a deep desire to show my heart that all is well. And deep in me I believe God counts me as valuable. That deep belief just needs to rise to the surface more often and then I need to grab hold of it and live in it.

God’s heart for women? I think Proverbs 31:10b sums it up, “She is worth far more than rubies.” We are more valuable than this world gives us credit for. We are more valuable to the work of God than even we realize.

Beloved, do you hear him saying YOUR name? Because he is...