Welcome to part 3 where we continue to look at women in the Bible with inspiring faith stories we can learn from. 

If you have yet to read parts (1 & 2) of this series, you can find them in our blog series under the resources tab. 

Grabbed a coffee? Let’s start. 

#11. The Samaritan Woman 

Although the Bible does not mention her by name, the Samaritan woman is famous for having one of the longest and honest conversions with Jesus when she went to draw water at the well. 

Their conversation started when Jesus asked her whether she would give Him a drink. 

According to the story in the gospel of John Chapter 4, the disciples of Jesus had gone into the town to buy food, making this conversation possible without any distractions. 

The woman replied and listened to Jesus and went ahead to ask Him questions. The longer the conversation went, the more she got an understanding of who Jesus was—the Messiah.  

So convinced was she that she left her water jar and went back to town to share her experience and invite everyone to come to see Jesus without a care about the hostility between the Samaritans and Jews.  

 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29) 

She’s instrumental in believing in Jesus and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus after her testimony. 

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39). 

Her willingness to speak and listen to Jesus changed her life and brought the message of salvation to her community.

We learn from her story that God’s grace, love, and acceptance are for everyone who goes to Him and believes Him irrespective of their race, tribe, and status. 

#12. Elizabeth 

In the Bible, Elizabeth was married to Zechariah. She was also related to Mary, the mother of Jesus as a cousin. 

In Luke chapter 1, the Word of God says both Elizabeth and her husband were righteous in the sight of God, blamelessly observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees.  

However, the couple was childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive. 

One day, an angel appeared to Zechariah and said to him: 

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Elizabeth became pregnant and thanked the Lord for showing her favor and taking away her disgrace. When she was six months pregnant, Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and made a loud proclamation about Mary and the child she was to carry. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! (Luke 1:41-42) 

God used Elizabeth to prophesy about Jesus and bring forth John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Her story shows that God has a good purpose for all of us.  

 Want to learn more about Faith in God? Contact us today at Westside Bible Chapel through our website contact form or Facebook page.

Welcome to part 2 where we continue to look at women in the Bible with inspiring faith stories we can learn from.

If you have yet to read part (1) of this series, you can find in our blog series under the resources tab.

Grab a coffee.

#6. Anna

Anna was a prophetess and a widow who devoutly worshiped God with regular fasting and praying. Her brief story in the Bible is recorded in the New Testament book of Luke.

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow [of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day (Luke 2:36-37).

From her account, we can see that she wholly her life to be ministering before the Lord in the temple through fasting and prayer.

Also, not very many women in the Bible served as prophets. Anna is one of the handful who served as God's prophet in her time.

And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Anna was among the first people to instantly recognize Jesus, Israel’s awaited Savior and Messiah, when Mary and Joseph went to the temple with baby Jesus.

God rewarded her devotion and faithfulness with an encounter to behold the Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ, something she was deeply grateful about. Her story shows that it's never in vain to serve God wholeheartedly. 

#7. Hannah

Hannah was the mother of Samuel.

According to her story in 1 Samuel, Hannah was barren for a long time. Her situation was made worse by her co-wife Peninnah who would constantly provoke her due to her childless state.

Hannah had to believe and pray without ceasing for God to give her a son. She prayed that if God granted her prayer, she would give and dedicate the child back to Him—which she did.

O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head (1 Samuel 1:11). 

Samuel would then become a great prophet in Israel. None of his words fell to the ground.

And God, in His faithfulness, gave Hannah more children.

Hannah's story is an encouragement to seek God and persevere in prayer. God, in His faithfulness, hears and fulfills our desires and requests.  

#8. Ruth 

Ruth was Naomi’s lovely daughter-in-law and a young widow. She was a Moabite who made a tough decision and pledge to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem out of love and loyalty when both their husbands died in Moab.

Her mother-in-law’s faith in God inspired her that she decided and committed that Naomi would be the God she would worship and obey.

She was later to encounter her would-be husband, Boaz, after accompanying her Jewish Mother-in-law to Bethlehem in an exciting love story in the book of Ruth in the Bible’s Old Testament.

Getting married to Boaz lifted her life and Naomi’s from the struggle of gleaning after harvesters what was left for the poor and the foreigner residing among Israelites.

What’s more, Ruth would play a massive role in the coming of Jesus Christ, Israel’s promised Messiah, by becoming an ancestor of David, who is in the family lineage of Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew, chapter 1.

Her story shows that God’s love goes beyond nationality and that God accepts anyone who’ll come to and obey Him.

#9. Esther 

Esther's story is remarkable for her faith and commitment to putting her life on the line to save the entire Jewish nation.

How, by faith, wisdom, and actions, as well as help and support from her uncle Mordecai Esther went on to save an entirely Jewish nation, and the lineage of Jesus Christ is a great learning point for believers in Jesus Christ.

In the book of Esther, chapters 8 and 9, we learn how a decision to step out in courage and obey meant the saving grace to many people, including an entire nation, even when things seem bleak and hopeless if you depend on and look to God.

#10. Abigail 

Abigail in the Bible stands out because of her wisdom and discretion. The Bible refers to her as a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance in 1 Samuel 25.

When her husband, Nabal, refused to provide food and shelter to King David and his men, she thought and acted quickly by taking loads of food to David. She also made a powerful plea of mercy for her husband and household to King David and in the process offered counsel for him not to shed blood. David appreciated her wise counsel.

Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice, and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” So, David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person. (1 Samuel 25: 32-35).  

Abigail’s character is an excellent example of how godly women can be humble, of good understanding, and act tactfully.

If you want to learn more about Faith in God, you're welcome to contact us at Westside Bible Chapel through our website contact form or Facebook page.

Throughout the Bible, God shows his love for humanity. He created us so that we can know His love for us, have fellowship with Him, and serve a divine purpose in His Kingdom.

It’s written in Ephesians 2:10 that,

We are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

God determined a purpose for each of us even before we were born.

In Jeremiah chapter 1, God told Jeremiah that He had already appointed him as a prophet to the nations even before he formed (created him in the womb).

In this post, we talk about ordinary women in the Bible and how their faith played out as God used them to make an impact that’s still felt today.

#1. Sarah 

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was a beautiful and notable woman. Although barren initially, God had promised the couple that He would give them a child.

You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants (Gen 17:19). 

It looked impossible. Due to her age, Sarah would become impatient and even laugh about it.

However, the promise of God came to pass. Sarah gave birth to Isaac in her old age and became the mother of the nation of Israel. 

The incredible thing is that Sarah is mentioned in Hebrews because of her unwavering faith in the promise of God.

And by faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise (Hebrews 11:11) 

From her story, we learn that even when it seems to take too long, God's promises do come true. Our part is to have faith in God and His Word.

#2. Deborah 

A prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, Deborah was Israel’s only female judge.

We find her story in Judges chapters 4 and 5, where she played a unique role in the history of Israel.

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided (Judges 4:4).  

As a wise judge, Deborah obeyed the instructions of God and, together with Barak, led the Israelites to defeat King Jabin, Israel’s oppressor at the time.

Israel defeated their enemy thanks to her faith, obedience to God, leadership, and courage and enjoyed peace for years.

Deborah’s story teaches us to trust and obey God and believe that with God, we can be victorious even in difficult seasons.

#3. Rahab 

Rahab’s story powerfully shows that God can use any ordinary human being to achieve His purpose.

Why? Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. Because of this, it’s easy to think that she was the least likely to be used by God.

Nevertheless, God used her to hide spies that had been sent to Jericho by Joshua.

Like the rest of the people in Jericho, Rahab had heard about the power of the God of Israel—how He had continually performed miracles to save the Israelites. These accounts led her to recognize Him as a true God in heaven and on earth, which inspired her faith and action.

I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (Joshua 2:9-12) 

Her faith in the God of Israel saved her entire family, and she became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ, the Messiah playing a critical role in God’s plan to save the world.

#4. Jochebed 

Jochebed was the mother of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses.  

She greatly influenced history by taking action to save her baby boy (Moses) after the king’s command to kill Hebrew male babies.

Imagine how Egyptian soldiers would patrol the land to examine Hebrew women noting the pregnant ones and demanding to see the babies after birth.

However, Jochebed managed to hide Moses for three months and later daringly put him in a basket and set on the river Nile when the Egyptians began killing the male babies.

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him (Exodus 2:1-4). 

What a courageous mother!

Moses would later be found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and his mother, his nurse, as God had arranged. Jochebed’s faith and step of action saved Moses, Israel's great deliverer (from Egyptian slavery and bondage), prophet, and lawgiver.

#5. Mary 

When it comes to surrendering to the will of God, Mary the mother of Jesus, is a great example.

As a young maiden who had recently become engaged, an angel appeared to her and told her she will become the mother of Jesus, the by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Despite the possibility that such an encounter was happening to her for the first time and potential shame, Mary quickly submitted to the will and purpose of God and gave birth to Jesus.

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38) 

Mary later underwent great sorrow of watching her son crucified on the cross. But also, the privilege to see him raised from the dead.

Her story demonstrates a faithful and devoted servant of God who would honor Him through total surrender to His will of saving the whole world.

What about you and me? Reading and pondering about the stories of these impactful women of the Bible begs the question— what small step of faith and action is God calling us towards that could have ripple effects of changing generations and the entire world?

See you in our next post as we look at more women of the Bible who made a historical impact.

If you want to know more about God, you can talk to us. Contact us through a contact form on our website Westside Bible Chapel or through our Facebook Page.

Welcome to part 3 where we continue to look at women in the Bible with inspiring faith stories we can learn from. 

If you have yet to read parts (1 & 2) of this series, you can find them in our blog series under the resources tab. 

Grabbed a coffee? Let’s start. 

#11. The Samaritan Woman 

Although the Bible does not mention her by name, the Samaritan woman is famous for having one of the longest and honest conversions with Jesus when she went to draw water at the well. 

Their conversation started when Jesus asked her whether she would give Him a drink. 

According to the story in the gospel of John Chapter 4, the disciples of Jesus had gone into the town to buy food, making this conversation possible without any distractions. 

The woman replied and listened to Jesus and went ahead to ask Him questions. The longer the conversation went, the more she got an understanding of who Jesus was—the Messiah.  

So convinced was she that she left her water jar and went back to town to share her experience and invite everyone to come to see Jesus without a care about the hostility between the Samaritans and Jews.  

 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29) 

She’s instrumental in believing in Jesus and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus after her testimony. 

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39). 

Her willingness to speak and listen to Jesus changed her life and brought the message of salvation to her community.

We learn from her story that God’s grace, love, and acceptance are for everyone who goes to Him and believes Him irrespective of their race, tribe, and status. 

#12. Elizabeth 

In the Bible, Elizabeth was married to Zechariah. She was also related to Mary, the mother of Jesus as a cousin. 

In Luke chapter 1, the Word of God says both Elizabeth and her husband were righteous in the sight of God, blamelessly observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees.  

However, the couple was childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive. 

One day, an angel appeared to Zechariah and said to him: 

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Elizabeth became pregnant and thanked the Lord for showing her favor and taking away her disgrace. When she was six months pregnant, Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and made a loud proclamation about Mary and the child she was to carry. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! (Luke 1:41-42) 

God used Elizabeth to prophesy about Jesus and bring forth John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Her story shows that God has a good purpose for all of us.  

 Want to learn more about Faith in God? Contact us today at Westside Bible Chapel through our website contact form or Facebook page.

Welcome to part 2 where we continue to look at women in the Bible with inspiring faith stories we can learn from.

If you have yet to read part (1) of this series, you can find in our blog series under the resources tab.

Grab a coffee.

#6. Anna

Anna was a prophetess and a widow who devoutly worshiped God with regular fasting and praying. Her brief story in the Bible is recorded in the New Testament book of Luke.

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow [of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day (Luke 2:36-37).

From her account, we can see that she wholly her life to be ministering before the Lord in the temple through fasting and prayer.

Also, not very many women in the Bible served as prophets. Anna is one of the handful who served as God's prophet in her time.

And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Anna was among the first people to instantly recognize Jesus, Israel’s awaited Savior and Messiah, when Mary and Joseph went to the temple with baby Jesus.

God rewarded her devotion and faithfulness with an encounter to behold the Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ, something she was deeply grateful about. Her story shows that it's never in vain to serve God wholeheartedly. 

#7. Hannah

Hannah was the mother of Samuel.

According to her story in 1 Samuel, Hannah was barren for a long time. Her situation was made worse by her co-wife Peninnah who would constantly provoke her due to her childless state.

Hannah had to believe and pray without ceasing for God to give her a son. She prayed that if God granted her prayer, she would give and dedicate the child back to Him—which she did.

O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head (1 Samuel 1:11). 

Samuel would then become a great prophet in Israel. None of his words fell to the ground.

And God, in His faithfulness, gave Hannah more children.

Hannah's story is an encouragement to seek God and persevere in prayer. God, in His faithfulness, hears and fulfills our desires and requests.  

#8. Ruth 

Ruth was Naomi’s lovely daughter-in-law and a young widow. She was a Moabite who made a tough decision and pledge to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem out of love and loyalty when both their husbands died in Moab.

Her mother-in-law’s faith in God inspired her that she decided and committed that Naomi would be the God she would worship and obey.

She was later to encounter her would-be husband, Boaz, after accompanying her Jewish Mother-in-law to Bethlehem in an exciting love story in the book of Ruth in the Bible’s Old Testament.

Getting married to Boaz lifted her life and Naomi’s from the struggle of gleaning after harvesters what was left for the poor and the foreigner residing among Israelites.

What’s more, Ruth would play a massive role in the coming of Jesus Christ, Israel’s promised Messiah, by becoming an ancestor of David, who is in the family lineage of Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew, chapter 1.

Her story shows that God’s love goes beyond nationality and that God accepts anyone who’ll come to and obey Him.

#9. Esther 

Esther's story is remarkable for her faith and commitment to putting her life on the line to save the entire Jewish nation.

How, by faith, wisdom, and actions, as well as help and support from her uncle Mordecai Esther went on to save an entirely Jewish nation, and the lineage of Jesus Christ is a great learning point for believers in Jesus Christ.

In the book of Esther, chapters 8 and 9, we learn how a decision to step out in courage and obey meant the saving grace to many people, including an entire nation, even when things seem bleak and hopeless if you depend on and look to God.

#10. Abigail 

Abigail in the Bible stands out because of her wisdom and discretion. The Bible refers to her as a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance in 1 Samuel 25.

When her husband, Nabal, refused to provide food and shelter to King David and his men, she thought and acted quickly by taking loads of food to David. She also made a powerful plea of mercy for her husband and household to King David and in the process offered counsel for him not to shed blood. David appreciated her wise counsel.

Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice, and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” So, David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person. (1 Samuel 25: 32-35).  

Abigail’s character is an excellent example of how godly women can be humble, of good understanding, and act tactfully.

If you want to learn more about Faith in God, you're welcome to contact us at Westside Bible Chapel through our website contact form or Facebook page.

Throughout the Bible, God shows his love for humanity. He created us so that we can know His love for us, have fellowship with Him, and serve a divine purpose in His Kingdom.

It’s written in Ephesians 2:10 that,

We are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

God determined a purpose for each of us even before we were born.

In Jeremiah chapter 1, God told Jeremiah that He had already appointed him as a prophet to the nations even before he formed (created him in the womb).

In this post, we talk about ordinary women in the Bible and how their faith played out as God used them to make an impact that’s still felt today.

#1. Sarah 

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was a beautiful and notable woman. Although barren initially, God had promised the couple that He would give them a child.

You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants (Gen 17:19). 

It looked impossible. Due to her age, Sarah would become impatient and even laugh about it.

However, the promise of God came to pass. Sarah gave birth to Isaac in her old age and became the mother of the nation of Israel. 

The incredible thing is that Sarah is mentioned in Hebrews because of her unwavering faith in the promise of God.

And by faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise (Hebrews 11:11) 

From her story, we learn that even when it seems to take too long, God's promises do come true. Our part is to have faith in God and His Word.

#2. Deborah 

A prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, Deborah was Israel’s only female judge.

We find her story in Judges chapters 4 and 5, where she played a unique role in the history of Israel.

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided (Judges 4:4).  

As a wise judge, Deborah obeyed the instructions of God and, together with Barak, led the Israelites to defeat King Jabin, Israel’s oppressor at the time.

Israel defeated their enemy thanks to her faith, obedience to God, leadership, and courage and enjoyed peace for years.

Deborah’s story teaches us to trust and obey God and believe that with God, we can be victorious even in difficult seasons.

#3. Rahab 

Rahab’s story powerfully shows that God can use any ordinary human being to achieve His purpose.

Why? Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. Because of this, it’s easy to think that she was the least likely to be used by God.

Nevertheless, God used her to hide spies that had been sent to Jericho by Joshua.

Like the rest of the people in Jericho, Rahab had heard about the power of the God of Israel—how He had continually performed miracles to save the Israelites. These accounts led her to recognize Him as a true God in heaven and on earth, which inspired her faith and action.

I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (Joshua 2:9-12) 

Her faith in the God of Israel saved her entire family, and she became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ, the Messiah playing a critical role in God’s plan to save the world.

#4. Jochebed 

Jochebed was the mother of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses.  

She greatly influenced history by taking action to save her baby boy (Moses) after the king’s command to kill Hebrew male babies.

Imagine how Egyptian soldiers would patrol the land to examine Hebrew women noting the pregnant ones and demanding to see the babies after birth.

However, Jochebed managed to hide Moses for three months and later daringly put him in a basket and set on the river Nile when the Egyptians began killing the male babies.

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him (Exodus 2:1-4). 

What a courageous mother!

Moses would later be found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and his mother, his nurse, as God had arranged. Jochebed’s faith and step of action saved Moses, Israel's great deliverer (from Egyptian slavery and bondage), prophet, and lawgiver.

#5. Mary 

When it comes to surrendering to the will of God, Mary the mother of Jesus, is a great example.

As a young maiden who had recently become engaged, an angel appeared to her and told her she will become the mother of Jesus, the by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Despite the possibility that such an encounter was happening to her for the first time and potential shame, Mary quickly submitted to the will and purpose of God and gave birth to Jesus.

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38) 

Mary later underwent great sorrow of watching her son crucified on the cross. But also, the privilege to see him raised from the dead.

Her story demonstrates a faithful and devoted servant of God who would honor Him through total surrender to His will of saving the whole world.

What about you and me? Reading and pondering about the stories of these impactful women of the Bible begs the question— what small step of faith and action is God calling us towards that could have ripple effects of changing generations and the entire world?

See you in our next post as we look at more women of the Bible who made a historical impact.

If you want to know more about God, you can talk to us. Contact us through a contact form on our website Westside Bible Chapel or through our Facebook Page.

Welcome to part 3 where we continue to look at women in the Bible with inspiring faith stories we can learn from. 

If you have yet to read parts (1 & 2) of this series, you can find them in our blog series under the resources tab. 

Grabbed a coffee? Let’s start. 

#11. The Samaritan Woman 

Although the Bible does not mention her by name, the Samaritan woman is famous for having one of the longest and honest conversions with Jesus when she went to draw water at the well. 

Their conversation started when Jesus asked her whether she would give Him a drink. 

According to the story in the gospel of John Chapter 4, the disciples of Jesus had gone into the town to buy food, making this conversation possible without any distractions. 

The woman replied and listened to Jesus and went ahead to ask Him questions. The longer the conversation went, the more she got an understanding of who Jesus was—the Messiah.  

So convinced was she that she left her water jar and went back to town to share her experience and invite everyone to come to see Jesus without a care about the hostility between the Samaritans and Jews.  

 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29) 

She’s instrumental in believing in Jesus and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus after her testimony. 

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39). 

Her willingness to speak and listen to Jesus changed her life and brought the message of salvation to her community.

We learn from her story that God’s grace, love, and acceptance are for everyone who goes to Him and believes Him irrespective of their race, tribe, and status. 

#12. Elizabeth 

In the Bible, Elizabeth was married to Zechariah. She was also related to Mary, the mother of Jesus as a cousin. 

In Luke chapter 1, the Word of God says both Elizabeth and her husband were righteous in the sight of God, blamelessly observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees.  

However, the couple was childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive. 

One day, an angel appeared to Zechariah and said to him: 

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Elizabeth became pregnant and thanked the Lord for showing her favor and taking away her disgrace. When she was six months pregnant, Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and made a loud proclamation about Mary and the child she was to carry. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! (Luke 1:41-42) 

God used Elizabeth to prophesy about Jesus and bring forth John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Her story shows that God has a good purpose for all of us.  

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Welcome to part 2 where we continue to look at women in the Bible with inspiring faith stories we can learn from.

If you have yet to read part (1) of this series, you can find in our blog series under the resources tab.

Grab a coffee.

#6. Anna

Anna was a prophetess and a widow who devoutly worshiped God with regular fasting and praying. Her brief story in the Bible is recorded in the New Testament book of Luke.

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow [of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day (Luke 2:36-37).

From her account, we can see that she wholly her life to be ministering before the Lord in the temple through fasting and prayer.

Also, not very many women in the Bible served as prophets. Anna is one of the handful who served as God's prophet in her time.

And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Anna was among the first people to instantly recognize Jesus, Israel’s awaited Savior and Messiah, when Mary and Joseph went to the temple with baby Jesus.

God rewarded her devotion and faithfulness with an encounter to behold the Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ, something she was deeply grateful about. Her story shows that it's never in vain to serve God wholeheartedly. 

#7. Hannah

Hannah was the mother of Samuel.

According to her story in 1 Samuel, Hannah was barren for a long time. Her situation was made worse by her co-wife Peninnah who would constantly provoke her due to her childless state.

Hannah had to believe and pray without ceasing for God to give her a son. She prayed that if God granted her prayer, she would give and dedicate the child back to Him—which she did.

O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head (1 Samuel 1:11). 

Samuel would then become a great prophet in Israel. None of his words fell to the ground.

And God, in His faithfulness, gave Hannah more children.

Hannah's story is an encouragement to seek God and persevere in prayer. God, in His faithfulness, hears and fulfills our desires and requests.  

#8. Ruth 

Ruth was Naomi’s lovely daughter-in-law and a young widow. She was a Moabite who made a tough decision and pledge to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem out of love and loyalty when both their husbands died in Moab.

Her mother-in-law’s faith in God inspired her that she decided and committed that Naomi would be the God she would worship and obey.

She was later to encounter her would-be husband, Boaz, after accompanying her Jewish Mother-in-law to Bethlehem in an exciting love story in the book of Ruth in the Bible’s Old Testament.

Getting married to Boaz lifted her life and Naomi’s from the struggle of gleaning after harvesters what was left for the poor and the foreigner residing among Israelites.

What’s more, Ruth would play a massive role in the coming of Jesus Christ, Israel’s promised Messiah, by becoming an ancestor of David, who is in the family lineage of Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew, chapter 1.

Her story shows that God’s love goes beyond nationality and that God accepts anyone who’ll come to and obey Him.

#9. Esther 

Esther's story is remarkable for her faith and commitment to putting her life on the line to save the entire Jewish nation.

How, by faith, wisdom, and actions, as well as help and support from her uncle Mordecai Esther went on to save an entirely Jewish nation, and the lineage of Jesus Christ is a great learning point for believers in Jesus Christ.

In the book of Esther, chapters 8 and 9, we learn how a decision to step out in courage and obey meant the saving grace to many people, including an entire nation, even when things seem bleak and hopeless if you depend on and look to God.

#10. Abigail 

Abigail in the Bible stands out because of her wisdom and discretion. The Bible refers to her as a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance in 1 Samuel 25.

When her husband, Nabal, refused to provide food and shelter to King David and his men, she thought and acted quickly by taking loads of food to David. She also made a powerful plea of mercy for her husband and household to King David and in the process offered counsel for him not to shed blood. David appreciated her wise counsel.

Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice, and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” So, David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person. (1 Samuel 25: 32-35).  

Abigail’s character is an excellent example of how godly women can be humble, of good understanding, and act tactfully.

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Throughout the Bible, God shows his love for humanity. He created us so that we can know His love for us, have fellowship with Him, and serve a divine purpose in His Kingdom.

It’s written in Ephesians 2:10 that,

We are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

God determined a purpose for each of us even before we were born.

In Jeremiah chapter 1, God told Jeremiah that He had already appointed him as a prophet to the nations even before he formed (created him in the womb).

In this post, we talk about ordinary women in the Bible and how their faith played out as God used them to make an impact that’s still felt today.

#1. Sarah 

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was a beautiful and notable woman. Although barren initially, God had promised the couple that He would give them a child.

You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants (Gen 17:19). 

It looked impossible. Due to her age, Sarah would become impatient and even laugh about it.

However, the promise of God came to pass. Sarah gave birth to Isaac in her old age and became the mother of the nation of Israel. 

The incredible thing is that Sarah is mentioned in Hebrews because of her unwavering faith in the promise of God.

And by faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise (Hebrews 11:11) 

From her story, we learn that even when it seems to take too long, God's promises do come true. Our part is to have faith in God and His Word.

#2. Deborah 

A prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, Deborah was Israel’s only female judge.

We find her story in Judges chapters 4 and 5, where she played a unique role in the history of Israel.

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided (Judges 4:4).  

As a wise judge, Deborah obeyed the instructions of God and, together with Barak, led the Israelites to defeat King Jabin, Israel’s oppressor at the time.

Israel defeated their enemy thanks to her faith, obedience to God, leadership, and courage and enjoyed peace for years.

Deborah’s story teaches us to trust and obey God and believe that with God, we can be victorious even in difficult seasons.

#3. Rahab 

Rahab’s story powerfully shows that God can use any ordinary human being to achieve His purpose.

Why? Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. Because of this, it’s easy to think that she was the least likely to be used by God.

Nevertheless, God used her to hide spies that had been sent to Jericho by Joshua.

Like the rest of the people in Jericho, Rahab had heard about the power of the God of Israel—how He had continually performed miracles to save the Israelites. These accounts led her to recognize Him as a true God in heaven and on earth, which inspired her faith and action.

I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (Joshua 2:9-12) 

Her faith in the God of Israel saved her entire family, and she became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ, the Messiah playing a critical role in God’s plan to save the world.

#4. Jochebed 

Jochebed was the mother of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses.  

She greatly influenced history by taking action to save her baby boy (Moses) after the king’s command to kill Hebrew male babies.

Imagine how Egyptian soldiers would patrol the land to examine Hebrew women noting the pregnant ones and demanding to see the babies after birth.

However, Jochebed managed to hide Moses for three months and later daringly put him in a basket and set on the river Nile when the Egyptians began killing the male babies.

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him (Exodus 2:1-4). 

What a courageous mother!

Moses would later be found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and his mother, his nurse, as God had arranged. Jochebed’s faith and step of action saved Moses, Israel's great deliverer (from Egyptian slavery and bondage), prophet, and lawgiver.

#5. Mary 

When it comes to surrendering to the will of God, Mary the mother of Jesus, is a great example.

As a young maiden who had recently become engaged, an angel appeared to her and told her she will become the mother of Jesus, the by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Despite the possibility that such an encounter was happening to her for the first time and potential shame, Mary quickly submitted to the will and purpose of God and gave birth to Jesus.

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38) 

Mary later underwent great sorrow of watching her son crucified on the cross. But also, the privilege to see him raised from the dead.

Her story demonstrates a faithful and devoted servant of God who would honor Him through total surrender to His will of saving the whole world.

What about you and me? Reading and pondering about the stories of these impactful women of the Bible begs the question— what small step of faith and action is God calling us towards that could have ripple effects of changing generations and the entire world?

See you in our next post as we look at more women of the Bible who made a historical impact.

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