Strong women inspire me. From young girls using their voices to grandmothers raising the next generation to be confident and courageous, it’s powerful to witness women living with strength and purpose.
And in a world where equality is still fiercely fought for, it’s worth remembering that the Bible is filled with women whose courage, wisdom and faith shaped history.
Throughout the world today, girls and women are being empowered every day through Compassion child sponsorship and Survival initiatives to become modern-day counterparts of these strong women of the Bible. From the faith-filled Martha to the courageous Abigail, their stories remind us that strength, faith and leadership can rise from any circumstance.
Here are five strong women of the Bible – and the inspiring girls and women today who reflect their courage.
Martha—a faith-filled woman of the Bible
“Are you a Martha or a Mary?”
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked this question. And to be honest, I’ve always resonated more with Martha – not for the Mary and Martha story, but because of another moment that reveals the unshakeable strength of her faith.
Martha appears three times in the Bible including one of the most powerful testimonies in Scripture – when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
A close friend of Jesus, Martha lived in Bethany with her brother Lazarus and her sister Mary. In John 11, Lazarus becomes seriously ill. Though Martha and Mary send word to Jesus, Lazarus dies before Jesus arrives.
Yet, Martha’s faith remains unwavering.
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. (John 11:21-22 NIV).
Jesus does the miraculous and raises Lazarus to life.
How amazing is it to witness that strength of faith, to be so convinced of God’s provision and power no matter what happens in the natural? Martha’s story reminds us what it looks like to trust God – even when circumstances seem hopeless.
Martha—a woman of determination
Martha from Indonesia is also a faith-filled woman whose strength shines through adversity.
When Martha was just five years old, she lost part of her leg when she was hit by a motorcycle. But she refused to let this tragedy define her or stop her.
Today, she is determined to give her children the best possible life.
“I’m really thankful for the support I have received from Compassion and our local church. I have received so many helpful benefits. My family’s biggest challenge is that we have very little money. We realize that we are very poor.”
Martha participates in Compassion’s Survival initiatives in Indonesia where mothers receive training, support and resources to generate income to help their families thrive.
Through the program, Martha learned how to weave and was given chickens to start a small business to support her three sons.
“My children will have healthy bodies, they will not become malnourished,” Martha says. “I apply the knowledge that I received from the programme. I want to thank the implementers and coordinators of the programme for their efforts in taking care of us as mothers. They’re really taking care of us and treat is in a special way.”
Esther—an influential woman of the Bible
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
These words carry just as much weight today as they did thousands of years ago.
You were born for such a time as this.
Your voice matters. Your courage matters. Your influence matters.
Esther was a young Jewish woman living in the Persian Empire. Though she became queen, her story is far more than one of beauty or status.
When her people faced destruction, Esther risked her life to speak up. She fasted and prayed, trusting God’s timing. And through her courage and influence, she helped save her people.
Her story reminds us that God often uses unlikely people to change history.
Esther—an influential teenager from Kenya
In Mathare, one of Nairobi’s largest slums, another young woman named Esther is learning what it means to influence others for good. Esther is part of a Compassion program where she is gaining an education and learning leadership skills.
“It is important for girls to feel beautiful. If someone tells you that you are ugly you can tell them you are beautiful—only if you know in your heart that you’re beautiful. True beauty comes from education. We are the ones who can show the younger girls how to carry themselves. We can help direct them.”
She believes true beauty comes from education and confidence—and she hopes to encourage younger girls in her community to believe the same.
Abigail—a strong woman of the Bible
Wisdom and courage defined Abigail.
Her story in 1 Samuel 25 describes her as, “… an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings” (1 Samuel 25:3), Abigail carried herself with dignity and integrity despite her circumstances.
When David and his men requested provisions, Nabal responded with insults, putting everyone’s lives in danger. But Abigail acted quickly and wisely. She gathered food and supplies and approached David with humility and wise words, preventing violence and saving many lives.
Her courage and discernment turned a moment of anger into peace.
12-year-old Abigail—a strong woman in the making
Twelve-year-old Abigail from Mexico shares a similar desire to protect and help others. Through Compassion’s child sponsorship program, Abigail is able to attend school, receive nutritious food and medical care—and dream about her future.
One day, she hopes to become a military doctor.
She shares, “The reason I would like to become a military doctor is because I want to help those that are in need. They help when there are troubles in the country like people killing children.”
Deborah—a powerful woman in the Bible
Deborah stands as one of the most remarkable leaders in Scripture. She was both a prophetess and a judge, leading Israel with wisdom and courage. The Bible tells us she “held court under the Palm of Deborah…and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided” (Judges 4:5).
One of the hallmarks of Deborah’s leadership is her willingness to follow God’s call and to give Him the credit rather than leading out of her own strength. The song of Deborah reminds us that in the battles of life, we are not alone or unaided.
She sang, “March on, my soul; be strong!” While repeating, “Praise the Lord!”
Deborah—a future leader in Rwanda
Children are often referred to as the church of today and the leaders of tomorrow. And in Rwanda, 16-year-old Deborah is being empowered to become a leader. Through Compassion sponsorship, she is developing character, learning how to set goals and discovering her God-given potential. At her Compassion centre, Deborah is encouraged to grow in faith, praise God and trust Him during difficult times.
We don’t know what Deborah’s future will hold, but we are so grateful for her sponsor who is helping her become a confident godly woman.
Anna—a devoted woman of the Bible
Anna’s story in Luke 2:36–38 is only a few verses long—but it reveals a lifetime of faith. An 84-year-old prophetess, Anna devoted her life to worship, fasting and prayer. She waited patiently for God’s promise—and when she saw the infant Jesus, she recognized Him as the Messiah. After years of faithfulness, Anna became one of the first people to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38).
Eighty four years of waiting, of worshipping, of trusting. Every day Anna chose to hold true to her faith no matter the circumstances. She devoted her whole life to trusting in God’s provision and her long years of waiting were rewarded by being able to gaze upon the face of Jesus. Her life reminds us that devotion to God is never wasted.
Anna—a devoted grandmother
Anna in Honduras reflects that same quiet devotion. All her life, she worked hard to support her family by recycling cardboard—often leaving early in the morning and returning home late at night.
“I have recycled cardboard all my life. Since I had to work I had to take Diana with me to recycle. We used to leave in the morning and come back at night. Now it’s dangerous to go later at night. We made around $50 month which we used for food and medicine for Diana.”
The work was difficult, and the income was small.
But through Compassion sponsorship, the financial burden has eased and her granddaughter Diana now receives the care and support she needs, including help with ongoing health challenges.
The Bible is filled with women whose faith, wisdom and courage shaped history.
And today, girls around the world are discovering that same strength within themselves. Through the support of local churches and sponsors, Compassion helps girls grow into confident, faith-filled leaders in their communities.
Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
Will you help change the story of a girl living in poverty today?
By Roz Walsh, photos by Ella Dickinson, Ryan Johnson, Jeremy Tan, Alexander Whittle; a version of this article was originally published by Compassion UK.
