Empowerment is a message of hope. The google definition is simply “authority or power given to someone to do something.” This ‘power or authority’ is one that can lift us up from the situation we are in and elevate us into new heights. However, being “empowered” can mean something completely different depending on the context it’s given in.
I’m a half-black woman in America. Many would say that I’ve been given the short end of the stick, as I am presumably in the fight not just against gender inequality, but against racism. But luckily, women’s empowerment and the racial justice movement have come to my rescue…
Or has it?
Here’s the thing- I am empowered. Just not how you would think.
Women’s empowerment is about gender equality, and the redefining of gender roles. It is about leveling the playing field for men and women in the home, the workplace, the social, economic and political spheres; it is about women being able to do and act however they desire; it is about self-respect, self-confidence, and self-love. It is about women “self-actualizing their inner power.”
It is awesome to be confident, to be ambitious, and work hard, to encourage other women. It’s good to be determined and dedicated. But for Christian women, myself included, empowerment looks a lot different, and comes from a much different source than that of the world.
From a purely Christian perspective, there is no such thing as women’s empowerment. What does this even mean to a Christian woman? Nothing. We do not have any sort of ability in and of ourselves to become empowered.
The only way to truly be empowered is through the Holy Spirit within us.
The empowerment that the Holy Spirit gives us as women looks a lot different than the empowerment of the world. It has nothing to do with equality, or self-love. It is the power to live as a godly woman. He gives us resilience. He produces in us the fruits of the Spirit in us (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). He gives us strength; not the “strong, independent, bad a**, no-nonsense” type of strength, but rather, the strength to be obedient to Him; the strength to go through trials; the strength to walk in truth in a world that is lost; the strength to love our enemies; the strength to live as godly women in a culture that hates godly womanhood; the strength to resist temptation… I think you get the point.
Here are a couple of verses from scripture about empowerment:
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” 2 Peter 1:3-8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” Acts 1:8
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21
Christian women have been empowered long before women’s rights. We don’t need any of that. We don’t need silly cultural sayings to pump us up and boost our ego. We don’t need to go out there and fight for women’s rights and equality. The empowerment that the world offers, that many claim to be fighting for- it’s empty. It’s meaningless. And it is focused on self. Making yourself happier. Serving yourself only. It often means being brash, crude, angry, and masculine. This is no way to live.
The empowerment that the Holy Spirit gives us as women looks a lot different than the empowerment of the world. It has nothing to do with equality, or self-love.It is the power to live as a godly woman.
I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit came into my life. I’m so grateful He empowers me with godliness. I’m also so glad that I don’t have to strive for the same type of empowerment that the world offers - I would never be content!
If you have been striving for empowerment, but looking in all the wrong places, I hope this is an encouragement to you. And actually, the Holy Spirit’s empowerment brings peace and calm unlike any other.
I hope that you are able to see that empowerment doesn’t come from ourselves, but from One who is far greater than us, who can empower us far beyond our fickle human attempts.
With love,
Solie Osorio