Good Morning Friends,
I hope you are all having a lovely week!
Before I jump into today’s post, let me warn you that what I have to share is going to be very counter-cultural. What I have to say today isn’t what the world wants to hear, and it’s certainly not my idea either…. but it IS God’s idea. It is His original plan. Since the beginning of time, it has been challenged and twisted. It has caused some to become bitter and angry. Some feel that this plan puts women in bondage. Others think you are a fool to believe (much less live out) this plan. But for the women who choose to embrace this plan, there is freedom, joy, and untold blessings in store.
Male or female, God has a wonderful plan and purpose for both. But today, I want to focus on God’s plan for women. Following are the reasons He created us (women) from the very beginning, and it is the same plan and purpose He has for us now – even in the 21st century.
God’s Purpose for You (as a Woman)
You Were Created for God’s Glory & Pleasure
“Even everyone that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
This first truth applies to both men and women: we were created to bring God glory and pleasure. God is the Creator of all things, and everything He made, was made for the sole purpose of bringing Him glory and pleasure. Let that sink in for a moment. God created YOU to bring Him glory and pleasure. What an honor, what a privilege! If only you and I could fully grasp and understand the honor it is to bring Him glory and pleasure.
How can you and I bring glory and pleasure to God?
- Delight in Him – make Him the center and “all” of your life.
- Walk with Him – through prayer and reading His Word you can learn to know God and walk with Him.
- Praise Him – Praise Him for Who He is, and What He has done for you.
- Credit Him – whatever you accomplish in life, give credit where credit is due. He is the One that enable us.
- Thank Him – for the blessings and even the trials He brings your way.
- Share Him – there are others who need to hear of God’s love and salvation. He is pleased when we tell others about Him.
- Serve Him – With your time, your life, your self.
We bring Him glory and pleasure when we do all those things (and more).
You Were Created Differently From Men
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27
“And the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: and she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 1:21-22
Here’s a controversial thought- God created two genders and whatever you were when you were born is what you are. If you were born a woman, then you are a woman. If you were born a male, then you are a male. There is no if, and, or buts when it comes to gender.
God created just two genders. In God’s eyes both genders are equal but he created them differently and He created them for different reasons.
You Were Created to Be a Help Meet
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18
According to this verse, we (women) are God’s gift to men (wink 😉 ). We were created to be a help meet. Strong’s Concordance defines the word “help” as “aid“. (No, not maid!)
How do we help men? If you are married, your primary responsibility is to help your husband. You can help your husband by…
- Following, supporting, and submitting to his leadership (Genesis 3:16 and Ephesians 5:22)
- Respecting Him (Ephesians 5:33)
- Loving him (Titus 2:4)
- Keeping the home (Titus 2:5)
However, God’s plan for women to be a helper doesn’t just apply to married women. I believe this can still apply to those of us who are unmarried. Of course we cannot help all men the way a wife has the responsibility to help her husband but we can still be a helper regardless.
If you are a single woman you can still live out God’s plan by encouraging, supporting, and practically helping the men in your life (whether it’s your father, brothers, etc.)
Have you been embracing this purpose behind your creation? Are you seeking to help the man in your life (or your father or brothers)?
You Were Created to “Mother” Children
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply…” Genesis 1:28
“He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.” Psalm 113:9
“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house…” 1 Timothy 3:14
“That they [older women] may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children…” Titus 2:4
There are so many verses in Scripture that show us that children are a blessing from the Lord. They are precious gifts from God. What a privilege women have to bear children and love and care for them. You were created for this – God has given every woman the natural gift of “mothering”. Don’t smother it – embrace it and use it.
If you are like me and don’t have any children of your own (I realize many of my readers are unmarried and/or don’t have children!) you can still live out this purpose. Most of us have some little ones in our life whether it’s sibling, nieces, nephews, cousins, children from church, neighbors, or children we babysit. Learn to love those little ones. Help care for them and love on them – nurture the mothering instinct God has given you – it’s there somewhere, trust me.
If God blesses you with children someday, or you already have children of your own… then love them, care for them, train them, and choose to be a joyful mother of children!
(This past Sunday I was sharing with the girls in my class that many women today look at children as an inconvenience and a hindrance. Having taken care of little ones on a regular basis since I was 13, I can see why women sometimes come to this conclusion 🙂 . However, God does not give children to inconvenience the parents. He gives them as a blessing. See Psalm 127:3-5).
You Were Created to Be a Keeper of the Home
“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house…” 1 Timothy 4:14
“That they [the older women] may teach the younger women to be… keepers at home…” Titus 2:4-5
Whether or not you choose to work outside the home (now or someday), please know this: if you have a home and family, they need to come first! I am not saying you cannot or should not work outside the home, just that every woman’s priority should be family and home before work.
For you gals like me (unmarried without a husband and home): be planning and thinking ahead. Will you work outside the home (this will also depend on your future husband’s wishes!)? Could you work from home in the future? If you choose to work outside the home someday, how will you balance home and family and keep them first?
God made us women to be the keepers of our homes (or someday homes). A family and a home is not supposed to tie us down. This is God’s plan. For those that embrace God’s plan and choose to be joyful in it -there WILL be a sense of freedom and certain blessings ahead.
What Will You Choose?
Depending on your knowledge of the Bible, how you were raised, what you’ve been taught in school/college, and what you have chosen to believe, these ideas may be familiar or foreign, appealing or disagreeable. However, God’s plans and ideas are always best. Sometimes it takes a LOT of faith on our part but following HIS plan will always bring us joy, fulfillment, and blessings in the long run.
The world, modern-day feminism, and even many Christians, are choosing to reject God’s original plan. Rejecting God’s plan will always bring consequences. We can see those consequences in the untold numbers of failed marriages, gender confusion and the push for homosexuality, day care centers full of children who’s mothers are too busy working, and neglected husbands, homes, and families. Rejecting God’s plan has created quite a mess.
Why not choose to embrace HIS plan instead? Will you take joy in: bringing God glory, being distinctly feminine, being a help meet, mothering children (others or your own), and being keeper of a home?
Once again, there is fulfillment, true joy, and blessing in store for the woman who chooses to live out and embrace God’s purpose.
For Further Reading
Here are some of my favorite books on femininity and God’s plan for women 🙂 (These are affiliate links)
Be What You Are by Nathan McConnell
The 21 Tenets of Biblical Femininity by Jerry and Sheryl Ross
The Role of a Lifetime: The Script God Wrote for Women by Claudia Barba
A Woman’s High Calling: Ten Ways to Live Out God’s Plan for Your Life by Elizabeth George
Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot
Becoming God’s True Woman by Nancy Demoss Wulgemuth and Susan Hunt
Leave a Comment
Do you struggle to embrace God’s purpose for you as a woman?
What are your thoughts on this subject?
Thanks for posting this! This is such an important topic. I used to resent being a woman and God’s design. Several years ago I read true woman 101 by Nancy Wulgemuth and Mary Kassian. It helped me so much! We are completely equal and our differences are beautiful when we embrace them. It was important for me to learn to embrace God’s design even while single.
I have heard of that book – I actually listened to Mary Kassian and Nancy Wulgemuth discuss topic of True Woman 201 (I think it was 201 -they have a 101 and a 201!). It’s on Youtube if you would want to check it out. It’s very interesting and fun to listen to! Although I do believe True Woman 201 is geared more towards married women… I think. Haha it’s been awhile!
Hi Rebecca, preparing a short message for Mothering Sunday and came across your post. Thank you, If we obey God’s word, we will never make mistakes. For a long time, I was angry been a woman but when I began to trust God and know his plans for me and trust Him. I began to find peace in myself. God doesn’t make mistakes.
Woow may God bless you Soo much for sharing this message am grateful 😀😀😇 am a pastor’s wife and I believe sharing this message with the women ministry will be very great and helpful Thank you
So women, the lower being, was crated to worship and obey a male owner?????
This topic is really important and girls really need to know this!
How you have told, all the feminism, failed marriages, gender confusion, homosexuality and other things – it’s mess and girl like me is lost in this chaos. How many times I don’t know what to do and what’s the plan for me as a woman… It’s very chaotic and quite depressing!
This week, I found similar article on this topic and today I found that yours! I think God wants me to know my role in this world and He told me that through these articles 🙂
Thank you very much! ❤
Although I am single (and I believe I will be for next few years till I finish my graduation & college! :D), I can practice my role with helping my mom with the homemaking, I can help other boys and I can help young moms in our church! And of course, I can grow in my faith and I can improve my relationship with my Father!
Thank you for your 1,600+ encouraging, inspiring and joyful words that help me so much 🙂 I think that it’s a good beginning of the new year – know my role in this world! ❤
PS Sorry for mistakes, I hope it will be understandable for you! My English is not very good when I speak about more difficult things! 😀
Hana, I am so glad you read this post – and I hope it was a help to you. Keep studying God’s Word – the Word of God is our guide for life! And yes, we can always live for God whether young or old, single or married… His Word applies to us all. Yes, be practicing those special things that God created you to do – you can apply many of them right where you are!
By the way… I think your English is pretty good 🙂 I completely understood everything you said! 🙂
So God loves men so much more than us lowly females, that “HE” made them the rulers and heads of us brain dead morons.
I think all of this is spot-on, and needs to be said! One thing I wanted to comment on was the mothering instinct. That’s one area I always kind of worried about, because I’ve never had the opportunity to be around kids much, and never felt “good with kids”, so I always felt like “Oh no, what if I’m the only Christian young lady who isn’t good with kids and will never be a good mother??” Haha! But recently God has changed my heart, and when I see kids, I think of what a blessing they are and what a privilege it would be to have them! It’s kind of hard to explain, but I can tell that, as my heart has grown closer to the Lord, He’s changed my heart! Also, when I was helping out at our church’s VBS this past summer, I was more involved hands-on. Normally I’m behind the scenes doing something. But one night I was able to interact with some of the little girls there and they were so attached to me! Most girls grew up around kids and have always related to them, but this was new for me, so I thought it was neat! Maybe that makes sense lol
That definitely makes sense – thanks for sharing! That is so neat how you had an opportunity to connect with some little girls. It’s such a special thing when little children get comfortable with older girls – I love seeing that. Keep praying and the Lord will continue to change your heart and help you in this area! Thanks again for sharing, Elizabeth! 🙂
Hi Rebekah,
Thank you for being very Biblically-centered in this post, as well as others! It’s so significant that you show how these points are all from Scripture, and not a manmade idea as some might think. While some of these truths could be difficult to accept, your reminders of their origin from the Lord, and your reminder that trusting God by living in His ways is truly fulfilling, have deeply encouraged and motivated me to walk by faith, believing that Jesus’ way is absolutely best and loving! So excited to ask for Jesus’ help to walk forward in the life He has designed for me. Thank you again, Rebekah! The Lord uses you to help so many, and I’m praying that you are just as encouraged as your readers are by such sweet reminders. 😀
Blessings to you!
Meredith, thank you so much for such a sweet and encouraging comment! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and respond. God will help you to walk by faith and embrace His purpose for you! ♥
What a beautiful, truthful, NEEDED post! Thanks for allowing the Lord to write through you, friend! <3 I'm going to check out a few of those books that I haven't heard of before. 🙂
Thank you Allison! I hope you will give one of those books a read 🙂
Amen! Thanks for sharing these encouraging truths! I appreciate that each one is based on God’s Word and is supported with multiple Scripture references! When I have more time I will need to check into some of those books! 😀
I wish I had known this kind of wisdom when I first got married. I resented the idea of being submissive to my husband, as if I were lesser and incapable. But that concept of being weak and incapable is what society has twisted God’s word to mean. It took me quite a few years before I finally studied what God really said — about men and women being equal heirs, and about husbands loving their wives while wives are to respect their husbands. Many good points in your post, and it’s obvious you’re well-studied 🙂
Agreed Nikki, you are the lesser being who needs to worship your male God/Owner.
Love this! You nailed this topic, Rebekah. It’s really neat learning who God created us to be…thanks for sharing! ♡
I really enjoyed this article! So much truth to everything you shared. I’m looking forward to checking out some of the books you recommended. Another great book on this topic is Girl Defined by Kristen Clark + Bethany Baird.
Wow, what an awesome read! Recently, I have found myself getting discouraged by the news shared on social media; it seems as though so many women are not living out God’s plan for them. After reading this, though, I have the feeling of urge and responsibility to share this on my social media pages in hopes that even one person can read it and begin living with God’s plan for them in mind.
Thanks for reading and sharing this post! I hope it encouraged you to live for God and embrace His purposes for you!!
Thank you so for sharing. I am always looking for words of wisdom to share with women. Your words and teachings are a valuable tool that I can use every day in my life as well as help others reach their God given pirpose.
It is so important for christian women to know their true purpose on Earth.
I am passionated by godly womanhood, it is so wonderful to embrace the God’s design for me as a girl, a young woman.
I also recommend ” A woman after God’s own heart” by Elizabeth George, ” 50 crucial questions – An overview of central concerns about manhood and womanhood” by John Piper, and “Designed for joy” by Jonathan Parnell & Owen Strachan.
For woman only by Shaunti Feldhahn it is also great! 😊
I have read A Woman After God’s Own Heart and I am actually reading For Women Only right now! ♥ Thanks for sharing! I hope this post was helpful to you!
In the article, you mention that single women should help out male family members and take care of other people’s kids. What about single women who live far from family and have crazy work schedules?
Also, do you believe that women should avoid certain careers , and getting in positions where some of their subordinates could be men?
Hey Gloria, good questions!
Everyone’s lives are different, but I believe if possible women should try to spend time with little children. Certain seasons may not allow for this… But single girls still living at home and not working full-time can make this a priority.
Personally I believe women should seek to be homemakers over career women (again every woman is different, some may not marry). If a woman works outside the home, it is very likely she will have a male boss… This is unavoidable in many cases. On the flip side, I personally would not feel comfortable being the boss of other men… that does not quite seem appropriate to me. Again, everyone’s life and circumstances are different. Every young woman must determine Gods will for her. I would certainly encourage young women to pursue domestic arts over careers but obviously we still need good godly nurses, teachers, etc.
Hey, I came across this post and had a few questions. First of all, I’m a Christian 21 year old in Canada born to hardworking immigrant parents. I don’t know if this is due to cultural differences or different up bringings but in my community, any respectable woman is either a doctor, lawyer, preacher or works her own company. We believe that God has called all of us to be Priest (holy, prayerful, leaders) and Kings (knowledgeable, wealthy, resourceful). And could you explain what you be so wrong about having male subordinates? Thank you.
Hi Lilly, the Bible makes it clearly known that God created men to be the leaders in authority. This doesn’t mean that a woman can’t lead in certain circumstances (like Deborah in the Old Testament). However, women leaders in the Bible were the exception not the norm. Many scriptures talk about the need for women to be in submission to male authority (mainly to her husband and spiritual leaders – pastors). The biblical pattern is for wives to submit to their husbands and care for their home and family FIRST. For a woman, her husband, home and family should be the #1 priority before a job or other responsibility. If a woman can balance her God-given priorities as well as a career, then that should be decided according to how the Lord leads, as well as how her husband feels about the matter. Some Scriptures to study would be…. Titus 2, Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Peter 3:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:12.
Thanks so much for your post. I have been struggling with what my purpose in life is as a childless Christian woman and this post has really helped. I have also purchased and read most of ‘A Woman’s high calling.’ by Elizabeth George which I would highly recommend. Thanks
Thank you Rebecca, while reading I’m thinking how extremely far we have drifted from God’s original plan for men, women, marriage and the teaching of children. It did not have to be this way and it doesn’t have to be this way! As a divorced 54 yr old female, Mother of two sons and an Aunt to nieces and nephews with children, my heart breaks for what has now become so apparent to me due to my own lack of biblical knowledge. However, God is merciful and forgiving! I have been redeemed and released from my past sins (poor choices) and have accepted the charge to live out God’s plan for me that others may come to the knowledge and forgiveness I have. Please join me ladies, it is not too late! I encourage you to get under the umbrella of a Bible teaching church, read God’s word for your own understanding, prayer for your siblings, wayward children and others you love, walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Praise be to our Creator, Savior and Redeemer!!!
Thank you so much sharing, God is so good!
God bless you