Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign hello, and welcome to the second Row Conversations podcast. Happy Wednesday. I'm so glad you decided to join me. I'm Lady P. And I'm here with you to have some conversation on today. I thank you again for joining me on the second row. I know it's been a little minute, but as I said in the past life, sometimes as life in, and we've been extremely busy with all that's been going on with other events and other things that have been going on in our lives. But I'm back and I'm so excited to be on the second row with you on today. So thank you for joining me, as always.
[00:00:47] So this month, I want to kind of focus on the women. It is National Women's History Month, and so I wanted to focus on the women and all of the great things that we have given and given to the world and contributed to this world and how we've made the world even better. And then I want to tie it in a little bit with a theme that has been really heavy on me. The Lord keeps showing me this theme, and so I wanted to tie it all together. So today we're going to be talking about being strong and courageous, and we're going to tie it in with National Women's History Month. And so just, just bear with me. Join me, get your tea, get your coffee, get your notebook and your pen, and we're going to go through this journey and talk about being strong and courageous. Okay?
[00:01:41] So first, I want to explain why being strong and courageous, why is it a central part of our life?
[00:01:49] It empowers us. Being strong and courageous empowers us to face challenges, overcome obstacles, and pursue our purpose with confidence. Right? So. And we talk a good bit on this podcast about when life brings us challenges and how we can work through them. So as we working through them, it's important to remember that we stay strong and courageous.
[00:02:13] So why is it important that we stay strong and courageous? First, it helps us when we are facing adversity.
[00:02:21] So life is full of difficulties, and strength helps us endure hardships, while courage enables us to confront them without fear. And I don't know about you, but fear likes to rear its ugly head a lot in my life. And so being strong and courageous gives us the ability to face those adversities straight up, just face them and try to deal with them when we have to make tough decisions, courage allows us to stand firm in our beliefs and make choices that align with our values, even when it's unpopular. And so, you know, we've All, I'm sure, been in situations where.
[00:03:04] Situations we've been in situations where life or decisions have had to be made. And you may have to stand alone and make those hard decisions by yourself. But if it aligns with your values and your ethics and your morals, then being strong and courageous means no matter what's going on, no matter who else sits down and doesn't agree, then I'm going to stand up for what's right.
[00:03:27] Excuse me.
[00:03:30] Another reason why being strong and courageous is important. It helps us overcome fear. There's that word again. Fear can paralyze us, but courage helps us, helps us move forward, trusting that God is with us.
[00:03:43] His verse says, I won't leave you or forsake you. So when fear comes and tries to cripple us and stop us, then we have to remember that God is with us, okay?
[00:03:57] When we're pursuing goals and dreams, strength gives us perseverance, and courage helps us take risk necessary for growth and success in when we have to or when there are things that we are trying to reach, goals that we're trying to reach. There are times when we're going to have to take a risk.
[00:04:16] I remember when we got the job here in Florence. We were living in another city, another town, and we took the risk of, I'm just going to take this chance, I'm going to take this job, move to Florence. We had no family, no friends. We didn't know anyone here. But we took the risk. And taking the risk has opened doors, tremendous doors for us. And so that's what we have to do. Be strong and courageous and take those risks. And lastly, when we're standing up for others, being strong and courageous allows us to defend those who need support and be a light in the world. So it's not just for us, but it's making sure that other people have someone to stand up for them. And being strong and courageous means for the least of them.
[00:05:02] When God. God says, when you do it for the least of them, you're doing it unto me. And so there are times that we had to stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves. And that is important to remember.
[00:05:14] So I'm going to give you a few scriptures and we're going to talk a little bit about being strong and courageous, what the Bible says about that. So one of the first scriptures is this. Joshua 1 and 9, which has been really, every time I Turn around, Joshua 1 and 9 has been in my face. And so for some reason, the Lord is trying to tell me to be strong and courageous and to share that with. With you. So Joshua 1 and 9 says, have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. So he promises his presence. He promises that he's going to be with us everywhere we go. And not to be afraid, not to let fear overtake us. We have to remember that even when it does come, remind ourselves that God is with us. So that's Joshua 1 and 9. He is the source of strength and courage. That end we find that in Philippians 4:13, which is one of my favorite scriptures. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Our strength comes from God, not just from ourselves. And so we have to remember that his strength is so much bigger, so much bigger than ours, and that there are times where we feel like we are strong, but we're not. So our strength comes from him. When we're weak, that's when he's strong. And so in. In life and, and where we are and what's going on and where whatever's we have to face, remember that God's strength is with us. So you can do all things. There's nothing that you cannot do without him when he's with you. So when he's with you, there's nothing that you can't do.
[00:06:55] And then second Timothy, first chapter, verse seven, says, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Fear is not from God. Okay? So I know you've probably heard the, the saying, fear and faith cannot be in the same room. You can't. It can't. Fear and faith cannot work together. If you have fear, then you don't have any faith or your faith isn't working. I'll say it like that because I do believe that there is a sense of fear that we do have that is just there. It's just in us. But our faith should be bigger than our fear. Okay? Our faith should be bigger than our fear. Our faith in God should be bigger than the fear that's in us. So God has not given us a spirit of fear. A spirit of fear, there's a difference. You may have some fear, but to have a spirit of fear means it is overtaking you and you are crippled. You can't move forward.
[00:07:52] But that's not from God. But he's given us power, love, and a sound mind, a clear mind. So we have to remember that. Okay?
[00:08:04] All right.
[00:08:07] And then we have to trust have put our trust in God's strength. Isaiah 41:10 says, so do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
[00:08:25] So we have to be reassured that God is always present and always supportive. And we have to trust in his strength. Not our own strength, but, but God's strength. And so today I want to highlight some women who were strong in the Bible and who were strong in our history. So I'm going to talk a little bit about some women in the Bible and some women in our American history who were strong and courageous. Okay?
[00:08:57] And I'm sure you have some. So if you think of any women that in your life, that women courageous, make sure you leave a comment, send me a message. Let's talk about it so that we can. I'm not just the women that I'm talking about today, but I'm sure there's women that have impacted your life through their strength and their courageousness. All right. Through their courage. Okay?
[00:09:20] All right. Women who face adversity and strength. So one biblical example was Esther. When Esther risked her life to save her people, and that's Esther 4, chapter 16th verse, she used she faced adversity and she faced it head on. She was not afraid. She looked at it, at fear, face in, right in the face and kept going because she was saving her people. So Esther fourth, chapter 16, verse. So what is a. An example of a woman who looked adversity, who faced adversity and faced it with strength. Fannie Lou Hamer was a fearless civil rights activist who fought for voting rights despite extreme opposition. So she, there was adversity all around, but she did not stop, she did not quit. Her strength pushed her through and helped helped her through the civil rights time. And so that is one example of a woman who faced adversity with strength.
[00:10:28] Okay, so women who faced, who made bold decisions with courage. So who are some in the Bible, Deborah, or Deborah, depending on who you talk to. Deborah was a judge and military leader who fearlessly led Israel to victory. And you can find that story in Judges the fourth chapter, verses four through nine. And then in our history, who was it who was a person that made a bold decision with courage? We all know this name, Rosa Parks. She made a decision to not stand up, not to get to the back of the. She was not moving. And so she sparked a whole movement by refusing to give up her seat standing against racial injustice. She made a bold decision that Day to be courageous and not give up her seed. Women who overcame fear to create change.
[00:11:22] And I think this was a really good example.
[00:11:25] And it was Mary, the mother of Jesus. She accepted God's calling with faith and courage despite the unknown. And I think that's a good example because Mary was a teenager, she wasn't married. You know the story. She was visited by the angel and told her that she was going to have a baby and it was going to be Jesus. And she was very courageous in accepting that information and understanding the role she was about to play in the world, changing the world and what it was and what it was going to be. And so Mary accepted that call. And with faith and courage and strength, and she didn't even know what was going to happen, but she took it and she accepted it.
[00:12:23] And then an example in our history, Shirley Chisholm. She became the first black woman elected to the US Congress and the first to run for president, breaking political barriers. So she overcame that fear to create change.
[00:12:39] And I'm sure there were many days where she felt like she didn't know what was going on and why she was doing what she was doing. But she knew that she needed to create change. And she took the initiative to run for president. First black woman to run for president first.
[00:12:58] And then finally, women who use their strength to uplift others. Ruth showed deep loyalty and perseverance, staying by Naomi's side despite hardship. And you can find that story in Ruth, the first chapter, verses 16 to 17. And then who is a historical example of that? Madam C.J. walker. She was the first self made black female millionaire. And she empowered black women through entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Okay, so if you've ever had a relaxer, you should know Madam C.J. walker, but she was a self made millionaire. And so she was the one who used her strength and she uplifted others. She used her voice and her business and her the money that she made to empower others. And so those are some examples of women who faced adversity, who made decisions in their life to make a change. Through strength, through courage, through God's help, they were able to make a change not just in their life, but the lives of others.
[00:14:05] And so what are some practical steps to be strong and courageous? You may be saying, I just don't know where to start. I don't know what to do. Fear has been a part of my life for so long. How do I face life with strength and courage?
[00:14:22] So these are some steps. Number one, pray for strength and guidance. Always talk to God. And praying doesn't have to be the long drawn out thous and shouts. It is just having a conversation with God. Lord, I need help with being strong and courageous. I am. Fear is trying to overtake me. The spirit of fear that doesn't come from you has been present in my life for a long time. So God, I need your help. Help me with help. Help me to be strong and help me to keep moving forward.
[00:14:55] Number two, Read and meditate on God's word. That's why I gave you some scriptures to go read and meditate. There are many more scriptures of people who were strong and courageous. I just gave you some women because it's women's history month. But there are so many stories of people, men and women who were strong in the Bible. And so read. Find out what God says about being strong. Find out what he says about having courage and meditate on that. So that when times of fear does come up, when there are times you have to be strong, when everybody else is falling apart, God will give you the word that you need in order to make it through. So find the scripture and meditate on it.
[00:15:34] Surround yourself. Number three. Surround yourself with, with encouraging believers. There are times, many times where you are not going to have the strength that you need, but you're going to have partners, friends that are going to be the strength for you. So find those folks, that's that and put them in your life. That's going to help you. That's going to send you an encouraging word. That's going to send you an encouraging text that will see you may not be having a good day. They may see that you are in a state of weakness or a state of being fearful and make sure that you have people in your corner that's going to put push you and help you. Number four. Step out in faith, trusting God's promises. He has promised that he will be with you. He's not going to leave you. He has made promises to you. He has told you, given you word. He has given you promises. He has told you things that he's going to do for you. So step out on faith and and believe in what he says. And when you do that, that's again meditating on his word. God, you said I will be the lender, not the bar. You said that I will be a business owner. You said that this position is mine. You said that this is what you're going to do for me in my life. This is what you're going to do for my children. This is what you're going to do for my family. And so I trust you. And so I'm going to step out on faith. I'm going to be strong. I'm going to step out with courage and. And believe what you said. Because you said. And all of his promises are yay and amen. Okay? So we have to remember that again, meditating on His Word and finally remember past victories and how God has been faithful. If he did it before, I promise you, he'll do it again. So you have to remind yourself of past times that where he has brought you through or he has brought a friend through, we have to remember he's the same God. Nothing has changed. He is that same God. And so remember how he has brought you through, how he has brought you through before.
[00:17:33] And then remind yourself, you know what? He did it before, he'll do it again. If he did it in the Bible, he'll do it again. If he did it last week, he'll do it again. Why wouldn't he? He's the same guy. So we have to remember that. There's a song that we sing often. Jesus, I'll never forget what you've done for me I'll never forget how you set me free I'll never forget how you brought me out Jesus, I'll never forget no, never. And so those are the times that you have to remind yourself, you know what? I don't know what's going to happen, but I know that God has been with me before, and why wouldn't he be with me again? Okay? So in conclusion, remember that we must trust in God's strength. We have to remember that his.
[00:18:20] That he is with us and that his strength is made great in our weaknesses, okay? In the times where we feel like we can't be strong, that's when he is our strength.
[00:18:30] And as we are going through life, as we are facing adversities, as we are trying to make decisions about what's best for us, where we're going to go in the next five years, next five months, next five weeks, next five days. We don't know what's going to happen, but he does. And so we have to trust God. I don't know what's going to happen, but we have to trust you. Even in this time, this culture, this time that we are living in, and there's a lot of uncertainty, there's a lot that we see, and we just don't know what's going to happen, those are the times we have to trust in God, trust His Word and be Strong and courageous. Okay. We don't understand. We don't see the. The. The social media, the news cycle is constantly feeding us with changes and things that are happening, and it could become overwhelming. But even through that, we have to remain faithful and we have to remain strong and courageous. And I don't know if that's why God has been placing those two words in my life or in my. In my daily life. Everything. Everywhere I've been going, I've been seeing being strong and courageous. He keeps telling me that it's been in my dreams. It's been when I read in the Bible, that's what he keeps taking me to, being strong and courageous. So I don't know what it's about, but I just know that in this time, that I just have to stand on that, and I'm encouraging you to do the same.
[00:19:55] Finally, I want to end on this scripture. End with this scripture. First Corinthians, the 16th chapter and the 13th verse reads, Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous and be strong. I'm going to read it again. Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous and be strong. If we do those things, I trust and believe that we will make it through no matter what comes.
[00:20:31] I tell people all is well and one day at a time. And so when we stand on those things, when we stand firm in the faith that God is with us and that he has not left us, he won't leave us or forsake us. Once we stand on that, and we stand in his strength and His. In his courage, once we stand in that, I think there's nothing that we can't do. Is there anything too hard for Him? Absolutely not. And because there's nothing too hard for him, there's nothing that I can't do. There's nothing that you can't do. Okay. So I hope this little tidbit has encouraged you to keep going, keep fighting, to keep being strong and being courageous. I thank you again for joining me. Make sure that you join me on all podcasts, on all the podcast platforms, whether it's Apple, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast, make sure you join me. We're going to be a little bit more active being on the second row. I promise I'm going to have some more guests coming through. We are thankful for those who've come in the past, and we look forward to those who will be joining me in the future. I thank you again for joining me. Make sure you follow me on YouTube. Make sure you follow me on all social media platforms. I thank you. And remember, no matter where you are, no matter where you go, what you're going through, no matter where God has placed you, I want you to be strong and courageous. And I want you to accept it, embrace it, and flourish in it. I thank you, and I see you next time.
