I Am Rahab…Women of Faith
by Janice Alston

There are several Women of Faith in and out of the Bible.
Take a walk with me; I’m going to introduce you to a few Women of Faith:

Mary, Rahab, Ruth, the Woman with the issue of blood, Mother Theresa, Maya Angelou, Dodie Osteen, Mrs. Currie, and Janice Alston.

Meet Mary of Nazareth, Jesus’ mother; a young Virgin visited by an angel of the Lord. Mary was engaged to Joseph; therefore, she could have faced death by stoning due to her condition. However, by Faith, Mary responded to the messenger, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be according to your word.” By Faith, she would carry and bring forth Jesus.

Meet Rahab; an innkeeper labeled a harlot. However, this woman called Harlot was responsible for saving the lives of the spies, herself, and her family. She is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Meet Ruth, a Moabite widow. Ruth, told to go back to her people after her father-in-law, husband, and brother-in-law died. She refused to listen to Naomi, her mother n law and return to her people, declaring to Naomi, “your people will be my people, your God will be my God.” She is also in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Meet the Woman that suffered twelve years with a flow of blood. She went from one to another, looking and hoping for healing. She never gave up hope, which is the confident expectation of what God has promised; its strength is in God’s Faithfulness. One day she touched the hem of Jesus Garment and was healed immediately. Jesus told her, “Woman, thy faith has healed thee, go in Peace.

Meet Teresa Bojaxhiu, also known as Mother Teresa. She felt the strong call to serve God at the age of twelve. She left her parents’ home at eighteen and joined with the sisters of Loreta with missions in India. She served by Faith in some of the poorest places, faithfully and tirelessly, until her death.

Meet Maya Angelou, a woman whose life was not a bed of roses; however, By Faith, Maya overcame being raped at the age of seven by her mother’s boyfriend. Maya said in an interview in 2013 that it was her faith in God that allowed her to achieve such incredible feats. If God loves me, what is it I can’t do?

Meet Dodie Osteen, diagnosed with cancer, and told there was nothing else that could be done. Sent home to die, she rebuked that and had complete healing. She’s alive today.

Meet Mrs. W.L Currie, my mother and faith teacher. My mother was indeed a woman of Faith; her mother died when she and her twin brother were eight years old. She also had four other siblings; all passed away before she did. My mother had six children, and she buried four before she passed away.

Her favorite quote was, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Although her life had strife and blessings, she always remembered her love of God’s Holy written word, gospel music, hymns, and loving on people. If a hungry soul came across her path, she would say, “Well, I can’t say I’ll feed you till you want no more, but we will eat till there is no more.” She was a strong woman of Faith that overcame the threat of blindness at the age of sixteen; she said she asked God to please allow her to keep her vision; He did. However, she had to retire early, in her mid-fifties, because her sight did deteriorate.

Even with these vision issues, she was an avid reader and writer and should have authored a number of books. She attempted nursing school twice and had to withdraw each time because of childcare issues; we were young, and my father had been hit by a car and nearly died. Her Faith in God and strong will kept her family going. Momma was almost 84 when she went completely blind. She transitioned about two years after, which was her answered prayer. She always said she asked God to please let her go in peace if she did go blind.

Meet Janice Alston, a woman that has seen darkness and light, ups and downs, and experienced the bitter life and the sweet life. She was married at a young age and a mother a year and a half later. Faith was all she had some days. Her father died at 44, her eldest brother at 46, her youngest at 30. And Her firstborn passed away at six months old from the Asian flu. Janice walked by faith, though not always and certainly not perfectly. She came from a large extended family, and it seemed as though there were never-ending funeral processions as well as family celebrations. God’s omnipotence was revealed to her in 1973. She and her husband were exiting out of the military, stationed at Fort Dix. They planned to be on the highway by 5 pm. That did not happen. Several times inspectors came, and several times their quarters failed inspection. She was frustrated, and her four-month-old baby boy was fretful. As she went about going over things in the apt, a silent prayer was uttered. Finally, at 7 pm, they were given clearance to exit. As they reached the interstate, they noticed several cars had backed up the entrance ramp. It was made clear to her and her husband that a horrific accident had taken several lives. The accident happened right about the time they planned to get on the highway. Had they arrived when they planned, they may have been within the casualties. This incident enhanced her faith, trust, and belief in God.

Janice experienced this many times in life. Two of her siblings passed, one literally after the other; her oldest brother three months after her youngest brother. Her friends and family were there by her side. However, it was her faith, trust, and belief in God that kept her. After the death of her brothers, there were several others…her cousin murdered by L.E., several of the teens she serviced within detention died from heroin overdoses in the ’90s, and then her mother’s bout with breast cancer. Suddenly in 1999, she experienced stress-related health issues. Her main artery to the heart was 98% blocked; the medical field referred to this issue as the ‘widow maker.’ Her cardiologist told her that many die at 50% blockage, yet hers was 98% blocked, and she did not even have a heart attack. He looked at her and said, “You’re a lucky woman!” to which she boldly replied, “No, Doc, I’m blessed.”

Women of Faith are powerful Women! Although many aren’t aware. Quite often built from her trials and subsequent victories, a woman’s Faith is mighty, and she is a Prayer warrior, whether soft-spoken or bold! Even I am a WOMAN OF FAITH…because I am Rahab too.