Join me in welcoming Guest blogger Lori Roeleveld to the Refresh blog. Lori and I share more than a first name. In addition to about a hundred other similarities, we share a home state (RI), an agent (the amazing Bob Hostetler), and now a publishing house.

Most of all, we share a love for God and His Word. Lori’s celebrating the release of her first book with Our Daily Bread Publishing, Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through lessons from Women of the Bible. She’s gracefully (see what I did there?) allowed me to share an excerpt with you today. Enjoy!

Women of Our Times or Timeless Women of God?

Are you under pressure?

Women face countless pressures in our times, especially if they are determined to follow Jesus.

Our culture is rife with temptations to love the world more than we love our God. Our faith is often mocked in movies, on television, and even by the news media. Some consider the people of God a threat. And there is even division in the church, sometimes presenting new temptations for compromise. How are we to make godly choices in the midst of this?

Two Old Testament women lived in times like these. In the days of the Judges, the Bible says there was no king in Israel and “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25b ESV. This sounds a lot like the “Be true to yourself” or “Follow your heart” philosophies in our days.

Delilah and Ruth were women navigating their lives in the midst of this self-centered time. One made choices completely in line with a narcissistic culture but the other defied the times and chose to follow God and serve others.

We don’t know if Delilah was Jewish or a Philistine. All we know is her name and that Samson, a judge of Israel known for his great strength and also for his unfortunate choices with women, loved her. The Philistines approached Delilah and offered her 1100 pieces of silver if she would seduce Samson and learn the secret of his strength. 

There is no evidence in Scripture that this was a hard decision for Delilah. She went for the money. It’s easy to judge her but everyone around her was doing what was right for them. She was simply a woman of her times. Samson had a reputation with women. Others probably encouraged Delilah on this path, perhaps even admired her opportunity to prosper from what would probably be a short-lived romantic relationship.

Delilah did seduce Samson and after lying to her several times, Samson finally disclosed that his strength was his hair. Delilah then had a man cut Samson’s hair as he slept. The Philistines ambushed him, blinded him, and took him captive, leaving Israel without their defender. Delilah’s choice to serve herself left the people of Israel at the mercy of their enemies.

Except for God. His plans are never thwarted. Samson’s hair grew back during captivity and his final act, even captive and blind, was to destroy many of the Philistines by tearing down the poles of their celebration gathering. He lost his own life in that final act but he did fulfill his purpose. We never hear of Delilah again once she took her silver. 

Ruth was a Moabitess. She married an Israelite but after a time was widowed along with her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law. Three widows in those times were at great risk of destitute poverty. Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, freed both women to return to their families and perhaps find new husbands. Orpah left but Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s God and care for the older woman.

She followed Naomi to a land foreign to her, Israel, but she remained faithful and was blessed with a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz, and a son, Obed. Obed is in the godly line from whom Jesus came. Ruth’s godly choice had eternal impact.

Christian women today live in times of great pressure but we have the choices of the godly women who went before us as examples and within us is the power of the Holy Spirit. We, too, can make decisions that are counter-cultural, Christ-like, and other-centered.

Don’t despair. God is with us as surely as He was with Ruth. He sees us. Hebrews 11:6 ESV says this: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Just as He rewarded Ruth for her faithful decision, so He rewards us for seeking Him in times when others seek only their own gain.

Each woman made a choice. One choice provided the woman silver for the moment. The other choice provided the woman a family, a people, belonging, and a part of God’s plan to bless the world. Her choice had eternal impact. What impact will your choices have today?

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a traditionally published, award-winning author, speaker, coach, and disturber of hobbits. Learn more of the choices of women of the Bible in her newest release, Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible. Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori learned the most from studying her Bible in life’s trenches. She speaks her mind at www.loriroeleveld.com and manages her coaching/freelance business at www.takeheartcoachingandfreelance.com .