Christian Women and Leadership

Christian Women & Leadership

By Sarah Holloway

Have you ever wondered if you've missed the promise of God? Maybe you can relate to that moment when you wake up one day, like me: staring at the ceiling above my bed, empty of emotion, having cried until the tears ran dry for yet another night, questioning, "How did I get here?"

Remember how your heart leapt when the Holy Spirit placed that promise inside you? You knew you were called; chosen for something BIG. But then things never quite panned out the way you expected.

That was my journey...

...King Carl and Queen Sylvia of Sweden looked radiant. The Queen wore a beautiful crown that glistened in the light, but all eyes were on me, a young 20-year-old girl from the UK. South East London to be precise.

Looking into the eyes of the royal couple just below me on the front row, and then out to the sea of faces filling the stadium, I lifted the mic, commanding their attention. As I spoke, my eyes pierced through the spotlights into the TV camera lens and out again to the faces of the crowd, compelling my audience to hear the voice of the Spirit. I paused to allow the compere to interpret, before continuing to explain how Jonah had chosen to rebel, by refusing to go to Nineveh, as God had commissioned him.

One year after the honour of sharing my faith and performing before royalty, I was commissioned. Tears streamed down my face and my heart raced in response to the prophetic call uttered by Jean Darnell at the NEC, Birmingham in the late 80’s. A trumpet call, to rise up and be a voice through the Media & the Arts. I knew that was my call.

One year later, I joined the band Heartbeat. Two of our songs were in the UK pop charts, declaring the name of Jesus across the airwaves. As we toured, we experienced the anointing of God in numerous ways; witnessed thousands of people saved, saw miracles, healings, and lives completely transformed with manifestations of the Holy Spirit that many only dream of. I had made myself

available and He'd responded to the cry of my heart; I was a dancer & choreographer, but first I was a missionary. We performed to thousands in venues around the UK & Europe, and television, but remaining faithful to the call and to know Him, was what I yearned for most.

God had taken me out of obscurity, having been radically saved, and given me a voice; I had purpose. I was no longer the introverted young person gripped with fear and anxiety. I was called... to be a voice to the Nations.

Yet somehow, I found myself several years later, wondering if I’d missed it? What had gone wrong?

"How did I get here?"

As I continued to stare at the ceiling, my body had lost all strength, but my mind was tormented. "Was I rebellious or so full of pride that I was deluded?" "What mistake had I made?"

One moment I was proclaiming the gospel and walking in my gifting, and the next, the rug had been pulled from under me, BANG. How had my life come tumbling down like a pack of cards? How did I find myself in a situation I hadn't asked for and didn't want? I couldn't understand how God had allowed a series of events to happen in my life that left me traumatised and confused. Although deep down I didn't doubt God's Word, my mind was troubled.

As the years passed by, every hope I tried to cling to, seemed to vanish into thin air. Nothing made sense, but I kept holding on, or at least by His grace I sensed Him holding me, by what felt like the thinnest thread. “A bruised reed He will not break”. Isaiah 42:3 (NIV, NKJ)

Maybe you recognize some of my journey? Perhaps you've never had the privilege of experiencing quite such a move of God, but you do know a depth of the Spirit in your life that hasn't been acknowledged. You've watched others be raised up, but you feel passed by. As the years have rolled on (no matter how old or young you may be), you wonder if you’ve missed it, or afraid that you will. Each time you seem to be moving forward another obstacle appears before you. Have you faced almost insurmountable challenges; feeling as if the enemy has your name on his ‘to do’ list? We certainly have a very real enemy, and I don’t want to underestimate the attacks that both you and I have experienced. But let me reveal to you a different perspective.

You are all familiar with the scripture regarding Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, being thrown in a pit and left for dead; sold into slavery; lied about; put in prison and left passed over. Sit and think about each one of those situations for a moment. Like me, I know many of you have also been rejected, abused, abandoned, gossiped about, had your character defamed, and been passed over. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 (NKJ).

Now let me ask you, was that the enemy’s hand or God’s? Who knew that a famine was about to take place and the family that were to become the Nation of Israel would need saving?

God or the Enemy?

You may have been hidden, like Joseph, for a time. But in that place, God hasn't allowed you to be broken, just to let you see what's on the inside. For He surely does allow us to go through trials that reveal our own hearts to us. To allow us to see if we will walk the truth that we preach. Do we walk in that forgiveness, humility, and love? Press ‘pause’ for a moment and let the Holy Spirit touch that part in you that you don’t want to face. Let Him bring His light into any dark area. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJ)

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another...” Romans 13:8 (NIV)

But this is why you have walked your journey: He has trained you for battle, as He did David. Before David ever encountered Goliath, he'd overcome the lion and the bear, whilst in obscurity caring for the sheep. When he faced his biggest giant, guess what? He wasn't afraid! He had learnt to have faith in God because He had learnt how to overcome.

Joseph wasn’t a wise steward or powerful leader when his brothers tried to kill him. He learnt how to overcome adversity, to forgive what seemed unforgivable, and how to steward honourably in the secret place, being put in charge of the other prisoners (Genesis 39).

Sisters, it is time for the leaders to arise. We have shifted into a new dispensation. It's not a new season, because seasons come and go; they rotate. This is a time that has never been before and never will come again; it is a divine reordering

of natural things. God has been re-ordering your life and removing the slave mentality of Egypt. Let me tell you a secret, you weren’t ready before! Like the children of Israel, you’d have fainted in the battle. “God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17.

The Promised land

Now the promised land is in sight, but there are defeated giants to overthrow. Through the hard place, you have been honed; you have come through the fire to be brought forth like gold. God is raising up an army of warriors, He is raising up the prophetic, the creative, and the entrepreneurs to pioneer something new that will communicate God's heart through our work-based ministries; leaders that know how to walk in their anointing, humility, and grace.

If this resonates with you then, it’s time to ensure you are equipped and prepared to shift into your destiny. You know you're carrying a promise that is too big for you to birth alone. It's as if you've been pregnant for years and now you can feel the labour pains. But we were never meant to do this alone. You may have carried this baby alone in the wilderness, but we all need spiritual midwives to help us when it comes to our time of delivery.

We will reap if we walk in step with the new rhythm. Can you hear the call of the trumpet, the shofar, and the beat of the drum? It's time to join together to shift into the Promised Land; to walk in your anointing; and fulfil the call of service to see the harvest fields reaped for eternal purpose.

God has anointed me to equip and train this arising generation of creatives and entrepreneurs. I coach those who feel misunderstood and overwhelmed to help them activate the call and provide training to help you rise in your business and sphere of influence. If your heart is moved, and you sense the Spirit stirring, then get in touch today at sarah@provisioncreatives.com

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Sarah Holloway is a multi-award-winning documentary film director, qualified teacher, and the creatives’ coach, called for such a time as this.