Barbra Gentry-Pugh

Women of Strength in Uncertain Times

March 15, 2026
God Positioning Women For Such a Time as This!

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 (NASB)

For many women today, life feels uncertain. Jobs have been lost, financial pressures have increased, and many women are carrying the burden of providing for their households while trying to remain strong for their families. In moments like these, questions often arise in our hearts: Where is God in all of this? Does He see what I am facing? When circumstances feel overwhelming, and the future seems unclear, it can appear as though God is silent. Yet the Word of God reminds us that even when we cannot see His hand at work, God is faithfully working behind the scenes of our lives, positioning His children according to His divine purpose.

This month, we honor the strength, resilience, wisdom, and faith of women everywhere. Women carry many responsibilities. Women who nurture families, lead in our communities, serve in ministry, build businesses, invest in the lives of others, support, encourage, and often manage countless tasks represented by the sticky notes on our desks and in our lives.

But a woman’s true strength is not found in how much she has accomplished, acquired, or what she says or what her life implies. Her greatest strength is found in who she is becoming in Christ. The Word of God reminds us in Proverbs 31:25 that “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

A woman whose heart is anchored in God carries a strength that goes far beyond her accomplishments or responsibilities. From that place of faith, wisdom, and surrender, she becomes a source of encouragement, healing, and transformation to others.

When women’s hearts are aligned with God, everything else in their lives begins to flow from that place of wholeness. During this National Women’s Month, may we celebrate not only the work women do, but the hearts of women who are walking in purpose, faith, and transformation.

Women of strength in Scripture were not powerful because life was easy. They were strong because they trusted God in the midst of uncertainty.

Biblical Sources of Strength for Women

Strength Comes from Trusting God’s Sovereignty. Esther’s story shows that God is working even when His name is not mentioned. In the Book of Esther, God is never explicitly named, yet His providence is seen everywhere: Esther becoming queen, Mordecai overhearing a plot, the king’s sleepless night, and Haman’s downfall. Esther’s strength came from believing that God had positioned her for a purpose. “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.

Strength grows when we trust that God is directing our lives, even when we cannot see His hand.

Strength Comes Through Prayer and Dependence on God. Before Esther approached the king, she called for a three-day fast, noted in Esther 4:16, “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” Her courage did not come from her own confidence; it came from seeking God first. Prayer always transforms fear into courage.

Strength Comes from Identity in God. In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5, Jesus addressed the bleeding woman as “Daughter”, and he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” Mark 5:34 (NLT) He restored not only her health but her identity and dignity.When women understand they are daughters of God, their sense of worth and strength changes.

Strength Comes Through Faith in God’s Power. The woman with the issue of blood demonstrated extraordinary faith.“If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.” Mark 5:28. Her strength was not physical; it was faith-driven persistence.

Strength Comes from God’s Word. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that strength comes from the Lord. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25. A woman anchored in God’s truth finds strength beyond circumstances.

Biblical Women Who Demonstrated Strength

Esther ~ Courage in Leadership. From an orphan to a queen, she risked her life to save her people. Her Strength displayed courage rooted in purpose.

Ruth ~ Strength Through Loyalty. In the Book of Ruth, Ruth faced widowhood and poverty yet remained faithful to Naomi and to God. Her Strength was faithfulness in hardship.

Deborah ~ Strength in Spiritual Leadership. In the Book of Judges, chapters 4-5, Deborah led Israel as a judge and prophetess. Her Strength displayed Wisdom and leadership from God.

Hannah ~ Strength Through Prayer. In the First Book of Samuel, Hannah turned her grief into prayer. Her Strength is surrender and trust.

Mary ~ Mother of Jesus Her Strength through Obedience. In the Gospel of Luke 1:38, Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” Her Strength is Obedience to God’s calling.

Of all of the powerful women in Scripture, I love the book of Esther as one of the great women of strength in the Bible. The story clearly and beautifully illustrates God’s hidden providence. As previously mentioned, although the name of God is never mentioned, He was directing events and circumstances even when we could not visibly see Him at work. His sovereign hand is evident in the unfolding of every detail.

As women, even when life feels uncertain, the story of Esther reminds us that God is never absent from our circumstances. The same God who positioned Esther in a palace is still positioning His children today. What may feel like confusion, delay, adversity, or hardship may actually be the quiet unfolding of His divine plan. No matter what it looks like, no matter the constant barrage of insults, no matter when we stand on His promises and trust His faithfulness, we discover that our strength does not come from our circumstances; it comes from the God who is working behind the scenes of our lives. And just like Esther, we may one day look back and realize that God placed us exactly where we needed to be for such a time as this. Even when we cannot trace His hand, we can trust His heart.

You may feel like many women today, feeling as if your life is uncertain or unstable; however, the story of Esther reminds us that God may already be positioning you for something you cannot yet see. None of these moments seemed miraculous on their own. They appeared to be ordinary circumstances. Yet when woven together, they reveal something extraordinary: God was guiding the entire story behind the scenes.

The same truth applies to our lives. There are seasons when we may not see God’s hand clearly, but that does not mean He is absent. Often, He quietly arranges circumstances, opens doors, and positions us for purposes we do not yet understand.

Some Women of Strength in History

Harriet Tubman ~ Led enslaved people to freedom despite great personal risk. Her Strength was courage rooted in faith.

Corrie ten Boom ~ Survived Nazi concentration camps and later spoke worldwide about forgiveness. Her Strength was in forgiveness and resilience.

Mother Teresa ~ Served the poorest of the poor for decades. Her Strength Compassion and service.

A woman’s true strength does not begin in her circumstances; it begins in her heart that is anchored in God.

HEART CHECK: Ask yourself, am I focusing more on my uncertainty or on God’s faithfulness? When circumstances feel uncertain, do I focus more on what I cannot see, or on the promises of God that never change? Today, choose to trust God even when you cannot see His hand clearly. Remember that He is always working behind the scenes of your life.

HEART  CHALLENGE:   Today, choose to trust that God is working even when you cannot see the outcome yet.

Standing Orders for Women in Uncertain Times ~ Spiritual Strength Protocol

Seek God First~ “Call upon Me and I will answer you.”Jeremiah 33:3
Trust God’s Sovereignty~“God is our refuge and strength.” Psalm 46:1
Stand on God’s Promises~ “God is not a man, that He should lie.” Numbers 23:19
Walk Forward in Courage~ “Be strong and courageous.”Joshua 1:9
Remember Your Identity ~You are a daughter of the King!

A STRONG HEART is a heart that is emotionally and spiritually anchored in Christ, renewed by the Spirit of God, and focused on faith rather than outward appearances. It involves trusting God over self, cultivating a pure heart through persistent effort, and relying on God for strength, especially during failure or adversity.

LET’S PRAY:  Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word, which gives us clear instructions on how to respond when circumstances feel overwhelming, and the future seems unclear. Father, help us remember that when we cannot see Your hand at work, You are faithfully working behind the scenes of our lives, positioning us according to Your divine purpose. Help us to always remember that true strength is revealed in a devoted love for You with our whole hearts, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.  