“Within every woman there is a fierceness that God has placed within us in order to fulfill our calling.”
God calls women to be fierce and tender at the same time, in a uniquely feminine way. What does that look like? How can we be tender without being passive?
Kimberly Wagner shares her own experiences and lessons learned from her own marriage and her book, Fierce Women. Together we unpack how to use our words, service, and faith as weapons of encouragement rather than destruction.
It’s important to recognize that God wired men and women distinctly. Kimberly points out that there’s a high level of “blurring” today between gender roles, as if society is seeking a “unisex ideal.” When women recognize their unique purpose and calling alongside men, however, things can radically shift.
Kimberly candidly shares that she struggled within her early years of marriage to love her husband well. In her words,
“I thought… he was all of the problem. Even in my prayer life, it was prayers directed at… God disciplining him.”
Where does this critical spirit come from? Kimberly suggests four causes:
- Pride
- Ingratitude
- Fear
- The desire to control
In contrast, what does it look like to be a fierce, biblical woman? First, pray for the men in your life. Give them room to think and speak, and let them finish speaking before you offer a response. Encourage their dreams and traits of leadership they display, and give them a PLACE to lead. Men and women are called to advance God’s kingdom and purposes, shoulder to shoulder. It will start by giving each men and women room to live the way God has designed them.
