Several years ago, I asked the Lord to give me something that would help women, and the Lord gave me a message on Phebe. God really stirred my heart up about it. Every time I read past Romans 16:1, this woman's name and life seemed to just leap from the pages and challenge me. I began to think about her life, and I realized she was an unusual woman. God really started stirring my heart about developing something that would strengthen women by taking this woman and highlighting some things out of her life.
Women need encouraging today. There are many things that discourage ladies. I have discovered that there are many women who, every time they try to lift their heads up to do something for God, get pulled down because of a failed marriage, or problems in the home, or maybe a disappointing child. Truly nothing breaks your heart like a disappointing child. Nothing will take the wind out of your sails like a failed home. However, as we examine the Lord's ministry and the Apostle Paul's life and ministry, we find that many of the people that the Lord chose and God used were women who had terrible pasts. Their lives were wrecked and ruined.
Women with failed pasts can do great things for the Lord. The devil may have gotten the best of their lives, but he does not have to get the rest of their lives. All through the Bible you see that when the Lord wanted to use people, He chose those who had experienced the grace of God, and they were blessed and used of the Lord.
