10 Inspiring Women of the Bible (And What We Learn From Them)

By Brittany Ann

When you face one of life’s inevitable problems or uncomfortable emotions, where do you turn?

Do you call your mom, your husband, or your closest girlfriends for advice? Do you read books and blog articles, looking for helpful tips and encouragement? Do you post on social media, looking for reassurance and perspective you may have missed?

While these can all be appropriate responses, there’s one source of inspiration and encouragement many of us often overlook: the women of the Bible.

Despite the fact that these remarkable women lived thousands of years ago, in a time and culture vastly different from our own, their lives and stories are still full of hope, inspiration, and encouragement for us today.

When we read about their doubts, their trials, their heroic acts of faith, and their missteps, we can take comfort in knowing that we aren’t alone in our struggles.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”

Whether you have struggled (or are currently struggling) to trust that God will come through for you as you battle doubt, loss, infertility, or seemingly hopeless dreams, these courageous women of the Bible remind us that the God who came through in the past is the same God who comes through for us today.

It just may not be on our timetable or in the way we initially envisioned—and that’s okay.

How to Find Encouragement from the Women of the Bible

It’s one thing to “know” we can take comfort from these inspiring Bible stories, but how do we do this, practically speaking?

Whether you’re systematically reading through a book of the Bible or have gone on a hunt through God’s Word for an inspiring story that specifically deals with something you are going through, you might run across a woman’s story you’d like to delve into more intentionally.

Once you find a relevant story, start by reading the story in its entirety. As you read, ask yourself Bible study questions such as:

How is this woman’s life the same as mine? How is it different?
What choices did she make? Were they good choices or bad choices?
What choice(s) would you have made in her situation?
What happened as a result of her choices, both the good and the bad?
How did God show up through her story? (It may not be obvious, but He’s always at work!)
How might God show up in your story?

While we have no guarantee that God will come through for us in the same way or on the same timetable that He came through for the women in the Bible, these stories can remind us to take comfort in His unchanging character.

In fact, the Bible is full of verses that tell us that God’s character does not change.

For example, Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Similarly, in Malachi 3:6, God tells us, “For I the Lord do not change.”

We also know that God is good and merciful. Lamentations 3:22 tells us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.”

God’s examples of faithfulness to women in the Bible are assurance we can trust Him.

What Issues Did the Women of the Bible Struggle to Overcome?

Life wasn’t always easy for the women of the Bible.

Living in a patriarchal society, they were often overlooked, dismissed, or silenced. They endured difficult family dynamics, including favoritism, rivalry, and betrayal. They struggled with infertility, jealousy, doubt, grief, and despair. They faced temptation, and when they gave in, they suffered the consequences.

Yet, despite all of these challenges and more, many women of the Bible stood up for what was right, chose to trust God even when they couldn’t hear God’s voice, and created impressive legacies that still encourage and inspire us today.

Be sure to check out these posts on the Esther Press blog to learn more about these inspiring women and how they chose courageous faith over fear.