Voices of the True Womanhood Movement - the working woman's perspective

For 35ish hours a week I work outside of my home. I can't tell you how long I have struggled with the guilt of not being able to stay at home to raise my son, serve my husband and manage our home full time.

I often fear that this situation disqualifies me from standing up and being a voice for true womanhood. Who am I to stand up for this cause if I can't even uphold what is often touted as the number one rule of true womanhood: staying at home?

Thankfully, though, the Lord has not left me without hope and answers.

He reminded me that I am not the only Christian woman who works full time.

I am not the only Christian woman who drops her kid(s) off at daycare.

I am not the only Christian woman who sends her kid(s) to public school.

I am not the only Christian woman who hurts over her situation.

He reminded me that there's grace.

He reminded me that He is sovereign (in complete control) and that our situations are not beyond His ability to bless us and work in our lives.

While I recognize that most of us (if you're like me, at least) don't have much of a choice when it comes to working outside of our homes, I do want to make one thing very clear: from my study of the Scripture in regard to this subject the Word is clear that the ideal place for a wife and mom is to work at home (reference).

So how do I reconcile the fact that I am living outside of where God would prefer me be?

I'm so glad you asked...

First, let me tell you why I work outside my home. My husband is a very godly man. He understands that my heart is for our home. He understands that God's calling for me is for my home and my family. Still though, after much prayer and consideration, we have concluded that the place I am best able to be his helper (reference) is earning an addition income to support our family.

Let me be clear that this was not a materialistic decision. We live in a modest two bedroom apartment. He drives an old pick-up with over 200,000 miles on it and has sold most of his tools just to keep the lights on some weeks. I drive a used minivan and cut coupons. We shop discount stores, resale shops and Goodwill. I work outside of my home not for material possessions but, rather, to keep food on the table and the air conditioner running when it's 103 degrees outside (thank you Texas).

Since I started reading Voices of the True Womanhood Movement (get your copy here) I have become more and more at peace with God's sovereignty in this situation. John Piper (the author of the first chapter) explains so clearly that "...true womanhood is a distinctive calling of God to display the glory of His Son in ways that would not be displayed if there were no womanhood."

Despite my work situation, I am still a woman and I was still created and redeemed to glorify Christ.

On a more personal note, I know that I have to work harder to keep my husband, son and home as priorities over my work. Still though, my job is important since it is one way I am helping my husband and serving Christ.

I cannot wait to read and post on the next chapter of Voices of the True Womanhood Movement. If it's anything like chapter one, it'll conjure up a multitude of emotions and challenges.

My challenge now is how can I glorify Christ with everything that I am?

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Favorite Quotes from this chapter (by John Piper unless otherwise noted):

"God designed them [womanhood and manhood] precisely so that they would serve to display the glory of His Son dying to have His happy, admiring bride."

"So whether you marry or remain single, do not settle for a wimpy theology. It is beneath you. God is too great. Christ is too glorious. True womanhood is too strategic. Don't waste it. Your womanhood - your true womanhood - was made for the glory of Jesus Christ."

"...God's ultimate purpose in creating the world and choosing to let it become the sin-wracked world that it is, is so that the greatness of the glory of Christ could be put on display at Calvary where He bought His rebellious bride at the cost of His Life."