The Power of Womenಮಾದರಿ

The Power of Leaving

Leaving is not a sign of weakness.
It's a courageous act.
A power move built on bravery.

I endured a lot of unfair practices in a previous role - being repeatedly excluded from meetings, being yelled at, being publicly belittled, and being spiritually manipulated. I watched multiple friends leave and remembered admiring their bravery while I chose to bravely stay . . . or so I thought.

Then, at the end of another long and challenging meeting, during which I again asked for male allies to support change, a male colleague looked at me and said, "Well, either you quit or I quit." I felt God say to me, "Don't quit, but I allow you to leave.” So, I began preparing for my exit.

God walked with me, and I believe He was proud of me. When I left, I could finally be open to what He wanted me to do. Leaving empowered me and helped redefine my worth. I was no longer paralyzed by the treatment I endured. Our worth is not determined by the circumstances we endure but by the value God sees in us. And when we start to see ourselves as God sees us, we have the freedom to leave!

Even with this new power, my heart was shattered by the weight I had carried for so long. I clung to Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! It has already begun to happen. Surely, you can recognize it. I will make a road through the desert. I will make streams in the wilderness.”

Are you in an unhealthy place? Is God nudging you to leave? Sometimes, we must step away from something to enter the goodness that awaits us.

You have nothing to prove; your worth is not in a title or a job description.

You do not have to stay.

There is power in leaving when it aligns with God's will. So leave! And watch God build a path in your desert that leads to better, healthier, happier pastures where He is there, just waiting for you.

Prayer & Reflection

1. What’s the difference between “leaving” and “quitting”? How might leaving actually honor God?
2. Are you hearing God tell you to leave? What does obedience look like?

Written by Jennifer Edwards

Thank you for exploring the lives of these incredible, unsung women of the Bible. We pray that it has been a source of encouragement and maybe even a challenge as you live and love like Jesus. Follow Women Speakers Collective to see our library of plans.

Learn to unleash your voice through our coaching, resources, retreats, and more at Women Speaker's Collective.