Tony’s Soldiers of Light Sundays: From the Margins to the Mission — How God Elevates the Overlooked Woman

On this 30th day of Women’s History Month, we reflect on a powerful truth: God sees, calls, and elevates the women the world often overlooks. Throughout Scripture and history, countless women have been disregarded, dismissed, and disrespected by the world—yet chosen, cherished, and commissioned by God. Their stories are not simply about survival but divine transformation and mission.

From the margins to the mission, these women teach us that no circumstance, no label, and no past can limit what God has ordained. Their voices rise from the shadows to lead, build, heal, and ignite change in homes, communities, and nations. Today, we honor the legacy and ongoing impact of these women—especially Black women—whose resilience and faith continue to shape the world.

Biblical Women Elevated from the Margins

Hagar – The Seen and Heard

Hagar was an Egyptian slave, a woman of no social standing and no voice in the decisions made about her life. Yet in Genesis 16, after being mistreated and cast aside, she encounters the Lord in the wilderness. He calls her by name, gives her a promise, and becomes known as El Roi — the God who sees.

Hagar may have been cast out, but God saw her worth and purpose. He made her the mother of a great nation. Her story affirms that God meets us in our wilderness, hears our cries, and gives us purpose even in pain.

Her encounter with the divine didn't just restore her dignity—it set a precedent. Hagar is the first person in Scripture to name God, which means that even those who are cast out and unnamed by the world are fully known and heard by heaven.

The Samaritan Woman – From Shame to Evangelist

In John 4, we meet a woman with a scandalous past and a rejected present. She comes to the well alone in the heat of day, avoiding judgmental stares. Yet Jesus engages her in the longest one-on-one conversation recorded in the Gospels.

He doesn’t shame her. He reveals Himself to her.

She becomes the first evangelist in Samaria, bringing her entire town to Christ. Her story shows that a past does not disqualify a woman from carrying living water to others.

The Samaritan woman becomes a prototype of transformation. She walked to the well with the weight of her reputation but returned to the village with the refreshing news of redemption. Her voice, once silenced by gossip, now shouts with glory.

Rahab – From Outcast to Ancestor of the Messiah

Rahab was a prostitute living in a condemned city. But her courage and faith positioned her for divine purpose. She protected the Israelite spies and was rewarded not only with survival but with legacy.

She became part of Israel, the mother of Boaz, and was grafted into the lineage of Christ Himself (Matthew 1:5).

God didn’t just save her; He gave her honor. Rahab reminds us that no woman is too far gone for God to rewrite her story.

She went from a label to a legacy, from walls marked for destruction to a place in the family of the Deliverer. Rahab stands as a defiant reminder that redemption doesn’t erase your past—it redefines it.

Mary Magdalene – From Deliverance to Devotion

Delivered from seven demons, Mary Magdalene becomes one of Jesus’ most devoted followers. She funds His ministry, follows Him to the cross when others flee, and is the first to see the risen Christ.

Jesus chose her to proclaim the resurrection—the most important message in history. Her life is proof that deliverance leads to destiny, and God trusts women with the weight of His glory.

She reminds us that those who have been bound can become the boldest believers. Mary Magdalene's worship, loyalty, and courage are timeless testaments of what it means to follow Jesus with a heart fully surrendered.

Modern Examples: Black Women Who Rose from the Margins

Harriet Tubman

Born into slavery, beaten, and denied an education, Harriet Tubman escaped bondage and returned again and again to free others through the Underground Railroad. Her faith in God and prophetic dreams guided her steps.

She didn’t wait for permission to move—she followed divine purpose. Tubman reminds us that God uses the least likely to liberate the multitudes.

Her spiritual vision and radical courage set thousands free, and her life continues to echo the truth that obedience can lead to deliverance for generations.

Sojourner Truth

Born Isabella Baumfree, Sojourner overcame slavery and illiteracy to become one of the most powerful abolitionist and women’s rights voices of her time. Her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” still echoes through history.

Sojourner reminds us that truth, when spoken in faith, breaks every chain.

She didn’t speak with eloquence of tongue but with authority of spirit. She dared to claim space in a world that tried to erase her. And in doing so, she etched her faith into the fabric of American history.

Maya Angelou

A survivor of trauma and racism, Maya Angelou became a poet, professor, and prophetic voice. Her writings and speeches healed and uplifted generations.

Her life proves that a silenced girl can become a global voice of inspiration.

With the rhythm of her pen, she sang the songs of resilience, strength, and hope. Maya made language dance with dignity and helped us see the beauty born from brokenness.

Claudette Colvin

Before Rosa Parks, 15-year-old Claudette refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Though largely unrecognized at the time, her bold stand helped ignite the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Claudette teaches us that being uncelebrated does not mean being unused by God. Her courage was the spark that lit the flame.

She was overlooked not only because of her age but because shortly after her arrest, she became pregnant. Civil rights leaders feared that using a young, unmarried pregnant girl as the face of the movement would invite criticism. In addition, she didn’t fit the image of "respectability politics" that leaders were aiming for. Instead, they chose Rosa Parks, who was older, married, and well-respected in the community.

Still, Claudette's contribution was essential. She later became one of the four plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, the case that ultimately led to the Supreme Court ruling bus segregation unconstitutional. Her story shows that history may not always shine the spotlight where it belongs, but God sees, remembers, and uses every act of bravery.

Claudette teaches us that being uncelebrated does not mean being unused by God. Her courage was the spark that lit the flame.

God’s Pattern: Elevation Begins in Obscurity

God often chooses those whom society overlooks:

• Esther was an orphaned girl turned queen and deliverer.

• Deborah was a judge and prophetess in a male-dominated world.

• Ruth was a Moabite widow whose loyalty led to legacy.

And today, God is still calling women from humble beginnings into holy callings.

He chooses the woman working behind the scenes. The girl who feels unqualified. The mother with silent prayers. The sister with wounds no one sees. God doesn’t wait for applause to anoint. He calls you when you’re hidden, and He uses your hidden place as a holy preparation.

Reflection and Encouragement

• Have you ever felt pushed to the margins?

• Do you believe your pain can be used for purpose?

• What mission might God be preparing you for through your past?

If the world has overlooked you, know that God never has.

Your tears, your prayers, your resilience—they matter. And just like the women of old, you too are being called from the margins to the mission.

He’s not just rewriting your story—He’s revealing your significance.

In S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™

Throughout the S.O.L.A.D.™ series, the recurring theme of overlooked individuals being raised up to fulfill a divine purpose is present. Characters like Juanita, Kevin, and others come from ordinary backgrounds, yet God equips them to stand against darkness and bring His light.

Their journeys echo the truth that God doesn’t call the qualified – He qualifies the called, especially those the world dismisses.

They are not superheroes because of their strength, but because of their surrender. In a world consumed by darkness, it is their unwavering faith and inner light that turns them into Soldiers of Light.

Where to Find My Books

To read more about these powerful characters and stories of purpose, resilience, and light, visit: www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop

Let their stories remind you that no one is too unseen for God to use. You are a Soldier of Light Against Darkness™—called from the margins to the mission.