Every Woman's Story Fresh Start Devotionals - Flipbook - Page 42
Week 18 Devotional
DAY 12 1: AUGUS T 19
GOD’S STORY
Nehemiah 7:7338:18
“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your
strength!”
And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them,
“Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people
went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts
of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had
heard God’s words and understood them.
N EH EMIA H 8 :1 0- 1 2, N LT
DEV OTI ON
There once was a very bold woman who started a worldwide ministry helping people know Jesus. Now you might
think things would be easy for such a confident pioneer, but her story was anything but. While Helen Duff Baugh
was a mom with two young children, her husband unexpectedly died. This happened in the first half of the 1900s,
a time when women rarely worked if their husbands could provide.
And yet, Helen had already seen the fruit of a ministry that she and her husband had started by inviting women
from his work to gather at a restaurant, giving them a safe space to ask their questions about God. More and
more groups like this were starting, and many were finding new life through faith in Jesus Christ. Even as Helen’s
husband and provider died, there was a need to formalize this ministry, to help it grow. She was asked to step up
and take the lead, and4as I would do4she hesitated. It was hard enough being a widow and a young mother. Why
would she add to that being a ministry leader?
One of Helen’s life verses gave her insight:
