Never Let Anyone Take Your Crown: Lessons From Tamar
I know you’re probably questioning my choice for “Biblical Woman of Influence”. When you hear the words “Influence”, “Woman”, “Bible” and “Beauty” all in the same sentence, you’d probably never in your lifetime add Tamar to that list. Many of you heard about her. She’s rarely preached about and most of us skip over her story, unless it’s in our Bible Reading Plan. She’s in the Bible; she is a woman; and she was beautiful. But influence?…”Um, I’m not sure about that one Angel,” you say. Believe me, I know. That’s the usual reaction when we first meet a person, and we don’t yet know their story. Whether good or bad, we see how life has treated them. But I think that this is just the woman who can eventually change your life if you can look beyond what has happened to her. Trade your specks for God’s specks and see her the way He sees her.
Let me share with you how your life can be an influence to countless women around the world who are suffering from desolate, or what I call wasted living, because of life happening. Whether it’s traumatic, dramatic, self-inflicted, or at the hands of another person…God, our Father still has a plan for every woman’s life. If we can help open their hearts and eyes to see it…they…we…will never be the same.
Life Happens
Life happens, and so many things beyond our control can cause us to lose our footing, our hope, and even our identity. This is exactly what happened to Tamar, a beautiful daughter of our most beloved, King David. We honor him as the man after God’s own heart, king of Israel, skilled warrior, slayer of Goliath… wait, this story isn’t about him. It’s about his daughter, Princess Tamar.
Though a princess, she experienced a devastating blow in life that was beyond her control. A beautiful princess, with the possible hopes of maybe one day marrying and becoming a queen; or raising babies who’d one day become kings and queens, all for the glory of God. This dream was shattered in one day, by one man.
Her Story
2 Samuel 13 tells her story. Tamar, a woman of beauty, grace, and hospitality…surrounded by those whoย loved her, yet preyed on by the lust and greed of her half-brother Amnon. She was raped, rejected, then shamed. Ignored by her father David, hushed by her brother Absalom, and sentenced to desolation for the remainder of her life.
I know that’s tough to read, and understand, but it’s real. I felt the same way when I first read it. Yet, God placed this story in the Bible purposefully. He knew that 12 years ago I’d ask Him, “God, is there any person in the Bible who’s been through what I’ve been through?” He didn’t show me Ruth or Esther. He didn’t show me Deborah or Jael. God showed me Tamar.
At first I was disappointed, and then offended. I asked Him, “God, how in the world is this woman supposed to help me?” “Her life ended badly!” His answer, “Rewrite her story by living your life Angel.” “There are countless women out there, like Tamar, and you, who have been abused and mistreated. They are living desolate and wasted lives because of it, and you can do something about it!” This right here ladies, changed my life. God, really cared. He really saw me. He desired to see me whole, and wanted to clean up any residue leftover from the sexual abuse that I had encountered at the age of 5. How would I do it? The Bible tells us in Revelation 12:11,
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.
You see, Satan’s main job is to “steal, kill, and destroy.” (John 10:10) He is a theif, and he’ll do anything to shut us down from experiencing the life God granted us by the Cross of Jesus, and his blood that was shed specifically for us. But, Jesus says in that same passage,
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
God, doesn’t want His daughters, regardless of what we have been through, to waste their lives. He didn’t call us to live desolate lives. When women don’t understand who they are in Christ or if we don’t understand who we are in Christ, we will live desolate lives. God has offered us life through his son Jesus. And the things that the enemy has set up for us in our lives that has caused us to lose our identity, or causes us to not recognize that God is for us, we will live a wasted life just like Tamar. She didn’t have the support we are so privileged to have.
God doesn't want His daughters - regardless of what we have been through - to waste their lives. He didn't call us to live desolate lives. God has offered us life through His son, Jesus. Share on XThey Are All Around Us
Our goal in life is to realize if we are living outside our identity, then we should turn and ask God, our Father, to help us. If we see a sister who is struggling in this area we must rise to help her see it as well, and guide her to Him. They are all around us. They are in our families they are on our jobs, they are in our neighborhoods, and they are definitely in our churches. They walk past us everyday, with their heads bowed down. They are silent or they are loud through their actions. You can see it in their demeanor; you can see it even in how they carry themselves. They walk in shame, bitterness, fear and anger every day of their lives. They need you and they definitely need God. Your understanding of the love of God can change their lives. Your knowledge of the grace of God can help them find rest. Your experience of the peace of God can make the biggest difference in their lives. THEY NEED YOU! They need your Testimony.
Your Crown, Your Identityย
The greatest thing about Tamar that changed my life and caused me to have a lifelong mission in helping women know the Father, and regain their identity, was the fact that SHE WAS A PRINCESS. And even after all that happened to her, she still was a princess. The enemy won by causing her to forget her identity. He was after her identity. He is after YOUR identity.
One day, my dad and I had a conversation. I was concerned about how my life was turning out. I didn’t feel that I was living up to my potential, and that so much was taken from me because of life happening to me…I didn’t think I was happening to life. I felt like I was losing.
My dad is not a man of many words, but when he does speak, he speaks in volumes. His next words changed my life. He said, “Never let anyone take your crown.” This was unexpected, and I was blown away. And all I could see was Tamar, her crown, and her identity snatched by the plans of Satan. Her earthly father wasn’t there for her. Many of you are or have experienced not having a father to speak life into your situations. But I want you to know that YOUR Father in Heaven wants to speak life over you. You must simply come to Him. He is waiting!
Your Challenge:ย
๐ RECOGNIZE what the enemy has taken from you.
๐ REALIZE who you are. (You are a Daughter of God. Take your crown back! You have every right to. You have all authority. )
๐REMEMBER all that Jesus did for you on the Cross.
๐RECEIVE God’s love.
๐REMAIN steadfast in your faith.
๐RESCUE and REPEAT. Others are waiting on you. Women out there need you. Help them and teach them to do the same.
So are you ready for the challenge? I believe you are. I am excited to see all God, your Father, will do in your life. He loves you and His love for you is greater than any earthly fatherย or bigger than any plan of the enemy. You are the apple of His eye. Believe it! You have the opportunity and the potential to influence the lives of those around you through your Testimony. Regardless of what you have been through, it doesn’t matter, God’s got you covered! Step up, and step out! And NEVER LET ANYONE TAKE YOUR CROWN! ๐
- Never Let Anyone Take Your Crown: Lessons From Tamar - May 11, 2018
My name is Tamar, I was not named after Tamar from the bible, but a river, but perhaps in some ways I am now called to her story because I carry the same name.
Angel, just, wow. This might just be my new favorite post! Well done ๐
THANK YOU !
This is everything! ๐๐ฝ
Love your message, Angel! You have a wise dad! Visiting from FMF.
Oh, I love my Daddy! Thanks Christina! ๐
So a beautiful lesson. May we always look to the King to tell us who we are.
Yesssss!
Hi Angel..
Just what I needed for today.. Words of wisdom from above.Thank you for your transparency and sincere words for us to follow.
Be blessed,
Hi Del! Transparency saved my life. So I do my best to use it with others. I’m glad that this helped have a blessed blessed day!
Beautiful!
What a beautiful lesson about Tamar. It is so sad when we let what happens to us define us and as you have pointed out, we don’t have to!
Hi Donna! Yes it is a sad thing when it happens. And so many women and men all over the world lose their identity because of it. But thankfully we have each other and we have our Father who can pull us out of it. It is not easy to come out but when we do… great things happen! Have a blessed day Donna! ๐
You are truly and inspiration Angel!!! I hoe you are living the life you so richly deserve!!
Kelly, I love inspiring others. And reaching daily to receive all God has instore for me. I pray the same for you, be blessed! ๐
This is beautiful! Many women who have suffered like Tamar think they are done for in life. So not true! We have this one life as a gift from God and He gave us our identity in Him to live out our lives to the fullest as a victor, and not a victim. So beautifully written! Thank you for sharing this! โค
So true Donna. Thankfully we have others to help us walk out the process and support us during the journey. It’s such a difficult thing to go through and overcome on our own!! Most people can’t see life as a gift when life or things in life have distorted it. But my prayer is that those who are experiencing the gift of Life will reach those and help them open it up as well. Thanks so much Donna! Many blessings! ๐