By Jamie Harms
The year 2020 is one that we will not soon forget. Given the pandemic and all that has come with it, many of us have found ourselves in circumstances we did not want or did not expect. We will find we are not alone in the feeling that we are trapped or our situation is hopeless as we read together the stories of four Old Testament women. We will see that women like Hagar, Rahab, Deborah, and Hannah found themselves in circusmtances which seemed to suffocate and discourage them, yet all four found their God faithful and enough.
To get to know these Old Testament women better, we are going to read (or listen to) their stories for ourselves, directly from the Bible. Keeping in mind that the Bible is first and foremost about our God, we will see His character displayed in these women’s stories, as well as see pieces of ourselves and our stories reflected in the narrative. We will also see that God chases after us today, just as He loved and pursued the women in these stories.
After we have had time to soak in the Scriptures individually, we will include blog posts every Monday and Thursday during the month of October. In these posts, our own women will reflect on what God is teaching them through time in His Word. This rhythm will lead into our time of small groups either in person or via Zoom each week, where we can challenge and encourage one another with what we have learned and continue to grow toward Jesus together.
My prayer for you in this coming month is that, like the women in this study, you would find your God faithful and enough. No matter what circumstances you face, you will remember that God is with you and know you will see His goodness in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). We have the immense privilege of knowing our God through His Word and confidently coming to Him in prayer so that when unwanted circumstances arise, we are rooted and grounded in the knowledge of His character and love. Together, in His strength, we will believe and remain steadfast in order to bear fruit in and out of season.