Strong Women

The mental health industry now recognizes that mental health solutions are not found just in biochemistry but that solutions can also be strength based.

In other words, individuals can access their own unique set of strengths to overcome problems.* Becoming a strong woman may take weeks, months, or even years to achieve as one moves from challenge to challenge and strength to strength since growing in strength is always a process in motion. Becoming strong is a unique journey for each woman.

At first, she may try to draw upon her weakness as she fights to overcome obstacles. She may feel the pain of apparent failure. She may lose focus at times and not see a clear solution to her dilemma. Yet she resolves to fight on.

Over time, she realizes that where she was once weak and foolish, she is now growing in strength and wisdom. Throughout the entire process, she accepts her challenges and faces them, continuing to work for solutions and resolution.

You may wonder, What is the how of this process? How is she enabled to become and remain strong? The true source of how is usually found in her life practices: the time she spends soaking up the truths of Scripture, the way she applies them to her own life through thought and prayer, and the ongoing resolve to secure her faith in the Lord while on the healing journey. We all have experienced pain, guilt, weakness, and other emotional challenges. These challenges are universal. God knows. He understands and prompts our hearts when it is time to change. He loves us too much to leave us burdened by guilt and sin.

And He is the divine how for our change. His Word tells us, “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV).

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10, NKJV). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV).

By God’s grace, provision, and strength, I am that strong woman!

Edna Thomas Taylor

* Carl Brun and Richard C. Rapp, “Strengths-Based Case Management: Individuals’ Perspectives on Strengths and the Case Manager Relationship,” Social Work 46, no. 3 ( July 2001): 278–288, https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/46.3.278.