Women of Grace 2024: Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
The Women’s Ministry organised a Women of Grace event on 16 November 2024. The title of this event, “Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?” drew from the refrain in Psalm 42.
The Women’s Ministry seeks to hold two main “Women of Grace” events in a year, where women of GBC gather around God’s Word to learn together and seek to encourage one another. It is also an opportunity for women to meet other sisters in GBC, and to deepen existing relationships. In March this year, we held a conference with Keri Folmar as the speaker, and she taught on knowing and holding fast to Scripture.
This event was the second one this year. In planning for this, we had three main aims. Through this event, we wanted to help women of GBC recognise and understand that struggles and suffering are not outside, but are also present in our community. By gathering around Scripture, we also sought to understand how God’s Word speaks to sufferers and gives us the resources to endure and hope. Finally, we wanted to provide a time for women to hear from one another, model what it means to continue to trust God in the midst of difficulties, and help one another by being present and being the community.
Seeking God Together
It was encouraging that about 50 women came together for the event. These were women of all ages with different backgrounds. Some were long-time members of GBC and others were newer members. There were also ladies who were visiting GBC and not from GBC. God worked to bring different ones together for a reason.
While the ladies gathered on Level 3, some of the brothers in the church were helping with child-minding on Level 5. We thank God for their help and support that allowed some of the mothers to attend and concentrate on the event without worries!
The morning began with Charissa and Eunice leading the women in a time of worship. The lyrics of the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” was the humble prayer of our hearts as we sought to pursue God as the Lord of our hearts, our true Word, and see Him a High King of Heaven and our treasure.
Gathering Around the Word
Ruth taught us from Psalm 42 and 43. From this psalm, she encouraged us to recognise our need, remember our God and preach to ourselves in our struggles. She helped the ladies see the consistent nature of God’s character, and also how the psalmist shows us that we can turn to God in our need. Ruth also shared honestly about her own experience of wrestling and struggling to trust all that God said in His Word. In doing so, she also showed us how we could recognise the pain of our circumstances, acknowledge the truth of God’s character and seek to trust Him.
The ladies were given some time to reflect on what God’s Word said. Some preferred to spend some time alone, while others sought out other ladies to process and share with each other. The reflection questions provided were as follows:
What attributes of His is God teaching me today?
How is God calling me to think differently about trials and afflictions?
How is God calling me to rethink my sources of comfort and hope?
Living Out the Word
After a short tea break, which also provided the ladies a chance to meet and get to know each other, we heard a series of sharing by some of our GBC members — Jeannie, Tiffany and Esther. Jeannie shared her experience of walking with God through difficult times, even death and grief and the loss of dreams and relationships. There were dark times, and now, she sees how God used the circumstances to teach her about her idols and sin, and about who He is. She also testified to how God used His Word, hymns and His people to encourage her and sustain her through those long nights and dark days.
Esther is our long-time member, and is also one of our senior saints. In her sharing, she recounted how she has sought to trust God through various things in life — including some unexpected circumstances — and how she’s continuing to do so in old age. Esther spoke clearly and also modelled for us what it looks like to trust and obey God in both the big decisions in life, and also in the daily small things. Throughout her sharing, her joy that comes from knowing God through His Word was palpable and clear.
Tiffany shared her experience of walking alongside others and the difficulty that can come as we seek to bear another’s burdens or encourage them. There are times when we may feel like we are inadequate or discouraged, and she encouraged the ladies to continue to do so by faith. She also shared some Scripture that has been helpful to her in her own walk and struggles. Tiffany’s sharing gave voice to the struggle that some in attendance might have. There are women in GBC who are involved in caregiving, discipling or just seeking to love another Christian and this work can sometimes feel difficult and tiring.
Each one had their own experience of wrestling and struggling to trust God, and they recounted their struggles honestly. What was even more encouraging was how they shared about God’s provision and faithfulness as He kept them going even when they felt like they could not. The ladies also shared verses which they clung to and memorised. They all affirmed how God encouraged them through His Spirit, His Word, the church, friends and family.
The ladies in attendance also had a time to share and pray with each other in small groups. It was a wonderful sight to see women gathering in small groups to process and even apply all they have heard as they to seek to uphold each other in prayer.
Going Out with the Word
The event drew to a close with a closing song. This time, the lyrics of the song “Jesus Strong and Kind” reminded us that we have a God who is good and faithful and we can always turn to Him in our need — whether we are thirsty, fearful or needy:
For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind
Each Women of Grace event often feels far too short to fully teach and equip the women or even establish relationships with each other. Thus, women are encouraged to build on and follow up on what they have heard and learned at the events, and deepen the friendships they have made. Resources were made available to the women to encourage them to continue pursuing God and help others to do so. Books were given out, and they were also directed to some of the EQUIP talks or articles that we have published recently. The list of books, articles and talks can be found here, and we hope that it will be of use to you too!
We pray that God’s Word which was taught will bear fruit in the lives of the women who attended. Pray that the women of GBC will be rooted and established in the Word and continue to grow in their knowledge and love for God in both the ups and downs of life. Pray too, that God will enlarge the heart of the women to love fellow church members who are in need, and even when they are in need.