Sanctified and Surrendered: A Worthy Craving

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

– Titus 2:3-5

I crave time with older women. Whether one year older than me or fifty, I am hungry for time with them. This craving is spiritually innate. Titus 2:3-5 instructs older women to mentor the younger; it tells them to set a godly example for the next generations. So, it makes sense that as a younger woman I desire the influence of my female elders.

In our busy culture, making time for mentorship is not a priority. We all have our to-do lists, demanding responsibilities, and personal needs. Giving of ourselves more than is required can easily feel more like an obligation than a blessing. Thus, many of us avoid the call and deny the instruction. In effect, we go on stressed out in our personal bubbles completely unaware of the blessing meant for us when we obey.

There are many girls younger than me whom I should be giving my time and attention. It’s convicting to take my eyes off of myself and realize I have made them my last priority. If I crave mentorship from older godly women, why do I assume younger women than me are not craving the same from women like me? Sure, I can make excuses.

“I’m not godly enough….”

“I don’t know enough….”

“I’ve never been in that situation…”

“If I had time…”

Excuses, excuses, excuses. There are no conditions mentioned in Titus 2:3-5. Paul did not say,

“Now, older women, once you have gone a whole year without sinning and mastered life, then you are to reach out to only the younger women whom you relate to the most.”

If the body of Christ had to wait until it was perfect in and of itself, it would never be ready to glorify its Head. The body of Christ is perfect because Christ is perfect. I am liberated from the chains of sin and death because Christ liberated me. He is perfect and I am His. Nothing in life is about me without being about Him first. I am to point others to Christ. The instruction He gives us in His Word is intended to be accomplished through us but by and for Him. Obedience always begins with surrender and ends with unmatchable blessing.

Mentorship does not have to be difficult. It’s simply opening your door and heart to another person and humbly confessing,

“I have surrendered every aspect of my life to Christ and He is continually working on me to set me apart for Himself. You’re welcome to watch, learn, and ask questions. Learn from me, allow me to learn from you, and we’ll learn together. But please, keep your eyes on Christ and encourage me to do the same, because He is our ultimate Teacher.”

I long for the guidance of older godly women. I want to learn from them how to be a more selfless wife, how to more efficiently keep my home, how to someday be a mommy, how to be an efficient employee, and how to keep Christ first when juggling all of the above. I want to know I am not the only woman to encounter struggles or ask questions. There is a certain community that I crave, to know I am not alone. We are a Church, a family who will spend eternity together praising our Creator in His incredible Kingdom. My hunger is for that experience to begin now as I am both mentored by the older and mentoring the younger. Titus 2:3-5 is a call on women to increase the Kingdom, which is definitely a worthy craving.