Femininity. What does it mean? If we asked a group of women that question how many of their answers would encompass the culture of our day . . . the way we dress, the way we look, our personality, career goals, or possibly our understanding of personal fulfillment.

Dorcas was a social worker. Ruth was a loving daughter-in-law. Lydia was a successful businesswoman who had a home large enough for church gatherings. Esther was very definitely in the upper social bracket and was a woman of great courage; it was her wisdom and boldness that saved the Jewish nation. Mary was a woman of deep devotion; her simple act of love for the Lord has been recorded so that we might realize how He desires our overt adoration. Deborah was a member of the military and an astute politician. Mary was the mother of Jesus and a woman of great faith. Even Rahab, a woman of questionable reputation, is listed among the women of the Bible because she proved herself to be trustworthy and brave.

We cannot define femininity as something that a woman does; it must be defined as character-something that a woman is- and it cannot be defined apart from the Creator. Every little girl comes into her world programmed by God with the need to be feminine. Our fulfillment in life must depend on only one thing, our personal relationship with Jesus, and this is a “forever thing.” We take it to the nursing home with us.

For those of you who have been wounded in your world, let me ask you a question: would you like to be someone different, someone who doesn't have to be controlled by what she has experienced in years past? That hope, dear one, has come true. There is nothing that is impossible for God, nothing so ugly that He will turn His eyes away, so mutilated that it is beyond His ability to heal. He will take what the world has soiled and trodden under foot and He will make it new. He will take the wounds so cruelly inflicted and He will cleanse them with compassionate care. The Bible says that if any woman is in Christ Jesus, she is a beautiful new creature. All of the old things that she learned about herself that were so destructive and hurtful have passed away. Look closely . . . you are new, you are loved, you are lovely (Paraphrase, II Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus whispers words of love and encouragement to you and He will never release His firm grip on your hand. But you must ask Him to do these things. He does not force His will upon you and insist that you love Him. He patiently waits for you to accept all that He has done for you so that you can be all that He created you to be-a cherished, lovely woman.