Black Women Have It Going On

At the end of a long week of casting nets, you might feel the urge to pull the boat over to the shore and explain yourself to the critics. You might want to prove to the person with the Jealous Spirit that you aren’t “dumb” or “scattered.” But the most powerful thing you can do is keep your back to the shoreline and your hands on the net.

Years ago, as a young single mother of three, I faced a “shoreline critic” whose words were meant to degrade my very person and shake my foundation. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin until I asked God for the strength to move on. A friend told me then that “the best revenge is to do well,” but at the time, I couldn’t even grasp what that meant.

Today, I understand. Doing well isn’t just about money; it’s about the capacity of your heart. God blessed me with a marriage to a man who stands with me in grace. Together, we have been able to provide shelter and care for the very person who once tried to break me, after he suffered three strokes and faced homelessness. Because we kept tending our “irons in the fire,” we had enough abundance—and enough peace—to show mercy without ever reminding him of his past behavior.

People cannot argue with a harvest like that. While critics spend their time talking, you spend your time building a life so stable that it can even provide shade for those who once tried to burn it down.

The Takeaway for You

• Success is Mercy: Doing well gives you the power to be kind to those who were cruel to you. That is the ultimate “net-breaking” blessing.
• The Shoreline is a Distraction: If you leave the boat to argue on the sand, you risk losing the catch. Stay in the deep water of God’s grace.

Community Challenge
Have you ever realized that the more you succeeded, the quieter your critics became? What “net” are you currently pulling in that will allow you to walk in the power of mercy rather than the bitterness of revenge?

Scripture for Meditation

“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” — Nehemiah 6:3

A Prayer for the Final Harvest
Lord, I thank You for the strength to stay in the boat all week. I thank You that I didn’t “come down” to the shoreline to argue with a Jealous Spirit or defend my worth to those who cannot see it. Let the work of my hands be my testimony, and let my life be a place of shelter even for those who meant me harm. I am Yours, and my harvest is in Your hands. Amen.

Remember: Your nets are full because your God is faithful. Don’t let the shoreline critics talk you out of your harvest. See you Monday!