Will it be easy to step into your calling when the world is shouting for you to stay small? No! Will it feel comfortable to be the only one in the room willing to say "yes" to the Vision God has dropped into your spirit? Absolutely not.
But let me ask you this, sister: since when were we called to be comfortable?
Welcome back to "The Grace-Led Life." We are deep into our series on Disney Princesses vs. Women of the Bible, and today, we are talking about a kind of strength that doesn't come from muscle, it comes from a mandate. We’re looking at Mulan, the girl who broke every cultural rule to save her father, and comparing her to two of the most fierce, spirit-led women in Scripture: Deborah and Jael.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re "too much" for some and "not enough" for others, this message is for you. Grab your faith journal and a warm cup of tea. We’re about to go to war for your Purpose.
The Disguise vs. The Decree: Breaking the Mold
In the story of Mulan, we see a young woman living in a society that had a very specific box for her. She was meant to be quiet, demure, and "bring honor" through a traditional marriage. But when the enemy threatened her home and her aging father was called to a battle he couldn't survive, Mulan did the unthinkable. She cut her hair, took up her father's sword, and stepped into a role the world said wasn't hers to take.
She didn't do it for fame. She did it out of devotion.
Now, look at Deborah in Judges 4. Israel was under the heavy, crushing thumb of King Jabin and his commander, Sisera. For twenty years, the people cried out. And who did God raise up? Not a general. Not a king. He raised up a mother.
Deborah was a Prophetess and a Judge. She sat under the Palm of Deborah, dispensing wisdom and hearing from the Lord. When the time came for battle, she called for Barak and gave him the strategy. But Barak, the man who should have been leading, hesitated. He told her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go."
Deborah didn't roll her eyes (though I might have!). She simply stood up. She knew her authority didn't come from her gender; it came from her God.
Spiritual Truth: Your "yes" is more important than your comfort. When the men in the room hesitate, God is looking for the woman who is willing to move.
Fact #1: Your Identity is Defined by Your Designer, Not Your Culture
The enemy loves to use cultural "scripts" to keep us paralyzed. He whispers that you’re too loud, too ambitious, or that "godly women" don't lead in the marketplace or the ministry.
That is a lie from the pit of hell.
Mulan had to hide who she was to be used. But in the Kingdom of God, you don't have to hide. Deborah didn't lead despite being a woman; she led as a woman, fully anointed and fully authorized. She was a "mother in Israel," which means she looked at her nation with the protective, fierce love of a lioness.
When you open your bible study planner each morning, are you asking God what He says about your capacity? Or are you letting the "norms" of your social circle dictate your ceiling?
Truth vs. Lie
- The Lie: "I need to wait for permission from others before I step into my calling."
- The Truth: "If God has given the decree, the permission is already signed in the blood of Jesus."
The Tent Peg Moment: The Courage of Jael
We often talk about Deborah, but we can't forget Jael. Deborah prophesied that the glory of the battle wouldn't go to Barak, but into the hands of a woman. Enter Jael.
Sisera, the enemy commander, fled the battlefield and sought refuge in Jael’s tent. He thought he was safe. He thought she was "just" a woman in a tent. He asked for water; she gave him milk. He fell asleep. And then, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer.
She didn't have a sword. She didn't have military training. She used what was in her hand to strike the decisive blow against the enemy of God's people.
Fact #2: God will use what you have if you have the courage to use it.
Jael was an ordinary woman in an ordinary tent, but she had an extraordinary resolve. She saw the enemy of her people, and she didn't wait for a soldier to show up. She handled the business herself.
Are you waiting for "better" tools before you start that business or lead that Bible study? Use your prayer journal. Use your voice. Use your "tent peg."
Stewardship of the Vision
Mulan, Deborah, and Jael all shared one thing: a deep sense of stewardship. They understood that the peace of their families and their nations was partially dependent on their willingness to stand up.
Stewardship isn't just about money; it’s about the gifts and the "North Star" Vision God has placed in your heart. If you don't step up, who will? The enemy, the real Sisera of our souls, is looking to occupy the territory that God has promised to you.
It’s time to stop apologizing for your strength. It’s time to stop shrinking so others feel big.
"Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. Her hand reached for the tent-peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple." , Judges 5:24-26
Spiritual Truth: Victory often comes through the hands of those the world deems "unlikely."
How to Battle: From Inspiration to Application
You might be thinking, "Charlet, I’m not heading to a physical battlefield!" No, sister, but you are in a spiritual one. Every day, you battle for your mindset, your family's peace, and your God-given purpose.
Here is how you cultivate Holy Courage this week:
- Track Your Fears: Use your christian planner to write down exactly what is making you hesitate. Is it the fear of man? The fear of failure? Bring it into the light.
- Declare the Decree: Find a scripture that speaks to your calling (like Joshua 1:9 or Judges 5) and write it on your affirmation cards. Speak it until you believe it.
- Identify Your "Tent Peg": What is one small, practical thing you can do today to move toward your goal? Don't wait for the sword; use the peg.
- Schedule Your Strength: If you aren't intentional about your growth, it won't happen. Block out 15 minutes in your bible study planner specifically for listening prayer. Let God give you the strategy.
You are the Key Part of the Plan
Sister, you are a masterpiece created for such a time as this. You weren't made to be a background character in your own life. Like Mulan, you may have to go against the grain. Like Deborah, you may have to lead when others are afraid. Like Jael, you may have to take the decisive strike when the opportunity arises.
Don't let the enemy steal your "yes."
If you need someone to walk alongside you as you navigate these "warrior woman" waters, I would love to see you in a one-on-one coaching session. We will look at your goals, your faith, and your mindset to ensure you are standing tall in the identity God has for you.
You are a winner. You are a leader. You are a daughter of the Most High.
Now, stand up.
With love and holy fire,
Charlet Billings
