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Written by Isabela Lima, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Boa Vista - Roraima, Brazil

In 2017, I had to experience grief in a heavy way—heavier than I thought I could handle. We had participated in a spiritual retreat in February where the theme was “Be Strong and Courageous.” And I needed to be.

In May of that year, we received the devastating news that my brother-in-law had passed away suddenly and unfairly. That news tore at the heart of my husband and his family.

I saw him suffering. Everything around us was tears and pain.

Someone he loved dearly had passed away.

It was then that I began to see the great love God had, and still has, for us—His care despite everything. The church cared for us and held us like children who needed to cry in someone's arms.

The pain was immense. The whole city was moved by this horrible thing that had happened.

And seeing my loved ones in that situation, I prayed to God to transfer to me at least a little of what I saw them feeling. 

What I didn't know was that a few months later, I would suffer exactly the same thing. 

Now it was my brother who had passed away. And I felt completely immersed in a cloud of grief. Once again, the Lord's Church embraced us, and we were cared for with great love. The church cared for us, and we cared for our family. 

Grief is dark and incredibly painful. Church services became a place where we simply cried.

But, behind all the pain, a strange (for that moment) feeling of gratitude filled me—not because of what had happened, but because I could feel the powerful hand of someone caring for me in the midst of my affliction. Furthermore, I felt the inheritance of an earthly family, better known as the Church of the Lord, which was completely at my side. 

My awakening to serve God more happened after this experience. Through it, I realized that I was a Christian, but I hadn’t been dedicating to the Lord everything I could or should have. So, instead of clinging to the pain, I clung to the idea that I could serve God better, surrender my life to Him, and prepare myself so that, when I saw others going through the same thing, I could help them in some way. 

This process was also a form of healing from grief. Serving God, growing closer to Him, and becoming more involved in the work of the church strengthened me. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be in Boa Vista, serving others today. I understand that everything is subject to the Lord's permission and that there is a purpose in all things. What we need to do is decide from which angle we're going to look: whether it's just the problem itself or how God works through it. After all, in John 16:33, Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart!

I think about this often. It was a trial that made me more mature in clinging to God and trusting my Father, who always knows what's best for me. At no point did I want to take it out on the Lord or question why I was going through this. On the contrary, I wanted to go to His feet, cry when necessary, help those who needed me, and learn to be more present in the church, to work better, and to serve more. 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Th 5:18 NIV)

“Give thanks.”: Grief changed me, but it didn’t mold me into its dark pattern of pain. It was through it that I grew even closer to my Heavenly Father.

“In all circumstances”: Even if I lose my family, God is with me, and His promise that one day I will be with Him, living in heaven, is what drives me to long for Him in this life.

After all, who will separate me from the love of God revealed in Christ our Lord?

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Written by Dr. Anessa Westbrook, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in York, Nebraska 

If you were asked to explain marquetry or pyrography, how would you begin? Likely, few of you even know what these crafts are, so you would probably begin by looking them up. Then, perhaps, you would try to learn a little about the process behind them. When it comes to mentoring, our familiarity with that word can give us a false sense of knowing what it is. It’s like hearing a word in another language and assuming that you know the meaning because it sounds familiar, but then later find out that the meaning is different. Often, we do not take the time needed to reflect on everything that mentoring entails.

Women are specifically told to mentor in Titus 2. Titus 2:3 lays out the personal preparation that must occur beforehand, saying, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good” (NIV). Before someone begins mentoring, there is a preparation process that needs to take place. According to this passage, mentors need to be reverent, watch the way they talk about people, not be controlled by worldly actions, and be prepared to provide good teaching. These qualities take time to develop. What we see reflected in this verse is inner work that is both countercultural and requires the ability to stand one’s ground. 

We should not underestimate the power of our influence as women. In Philippians 4:2-3, we see Euodia and Syntyche called out both as partners in the Gospel and with a plea for them to get along. They were obviously influential, but their disagreement was causing issues in the church at Philippi. Mentors should be worthy of imitation. Just as Paul called upon Christians to imitate him in Philippians 3:17, a mentor needs to realize the weightiness of her example. Unhealthy practices should be identified and removed from her life, as they could potentially be replicated in the life of her mentee.

Titus 2:4-5 outlines specific topics for mentors to cover. These topics are mainly domestic in nature, but they represented the everyday reality of women at this time. Paul wanted women to infuse their daily work with purpose and faith, so that they could represent Christianity and their faith well. Today’s mentors should take into account the daily work of their mentees, preparing them to reflect God in their work and personal lives.

Throughout Acts, women played important roles as the early church was being established. Right after the apostles watched Jesus ascend into heaven, they returned to the upper room in Jerusalem. Acts 1:14 says, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (ESV). In this small community, women wrestled alongside the apostles with how to apply what they had learned from Jesus to their lives as a Christian community. 

Throughout the book of Acts, we see women stepping up to use their gifts for Christ. We are introduced to Tabitha in Acts 9, who is described in verse 36 as “always doing good and helping the poor.” After she became ill and died, her absence was felt keenly by the widows whom she was caring for, and ultimately resulted in Peter raising her from the dead so she could continue her work. In Acts 16, we see the influential and connected Lydia and her household’s conversion and baptism. In verse 40, we find that Lydia went on to host Christians in her home. And in Acts 18, Priscilla, alongside of husband Aquilla, shares the good news of Jesus’ life and ministry to Apollos, who was boldly preaching about the coming of the Messiah. This transformed his message. These women used their influence in the circles God had given them, stepped up, and served God faithfully in those areas. Mentors should demonstrate this type of faithful service in their own circles, encouraging younger women to do the same. 

Mentoring is not a suggestion or an option; it is what we are called to as women. We should approach our own preparation with intentionality, carefully considering the way we influence and mentor. As you reflect on mentoring, what are some growth areas that you can work on? What type of impact do you think you could make in the lives of other women after working in these areas?