You know Harriet Tubman (1822-1913), a freed African-American slave who became the most famous “conductor” of the Underground Railroad.
But do you know the source of her strength? And how it can help you, too, in 2015?
When Harriet was a slave in 1849, an abolitionist friend slipped her a piece of paper. It had two names on it. She traveled to meet the first one on foot, who helped load her into the back of a wagon that took her to the second name for her journey to deliverance.
From there, she depended on more names, more safe houses, more of the grace of God, until she finally reached Philadelphia and freedom.
How? By holding steady on to the Lord.
Each scary step could have shaken her resolve to push through, and instead sent her back to slavery. But instead she leaned on God’s strength and His provisions to walk one more brave step after another.
This was her daily prayer. . .
“Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to you, and you’ve got to see us through.”
The odds were stacked against her—she was black; she was female; she was a slave. But she knew the deliverance stories from the Old Testament, and she knew she, too, could have the victory if she persevered.
Not just for herself, but also for others. She wouldn’t leave her family or friends behind. Once she tasted freedom, she went back to guide others also to freedom.
“I was a stranger in a strange land. [M]y father, my mother, my brothers, and sisters, and friends were [in Maryland]. But I was free, and they should be free.”
In all, she’s credited with rescuing around three hundred enslaved people through the Underground Railroad, and inspiring uncountably more–both then AND now.
What about us?
What have we survived?
Who can we go back for that needs a rescue?
Can we also be tour guides through the chaos to the other side of freedom?
Only if we hold steady on to the Lord.
Think about it. If you’ve been set free from a bad habit, from a prejudice, from a bad relationship or job or religious system that has enslaved you, will you go back for others?
Pray the same prayer Harriet prayed, “Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to you, and you’ve got to see us through.”
By leaning into God and following Him one brave step at a time, we also can become freedom conductors in 2015, just like Harriet Tubman was in the 1800s.
Our victories aren’t only for us. They’re to help others find victory also.
Let’s do this. Let’s hold steady on to the Lord.
We want to hear your stories in the comments. Who has come back for you? Who could use your help this year?
Lisa, I love this…who could use my help this year? I pray that I love well and listen well to the person right in front of me and be open to the possibility of helping those that need it, even if I think they don’t. Praying that my heart and eyes are open to His will this year. Beautiful friend, this is truly an encouraging post. Thank you!!
I love your answer, Mary: to love and listen to the person right in front of you! Sometimes we make it too hard to see who needs our help, when God wants it to be obvious (“Um, I put the person right in front of you!”). I know you’ll be a blessing to many this year; you already are to me.
Have to be away from the computer for a bit, but I’ll be thinking about this, and comment later.
What an amazing woman!
Yes, she was way ahead of her time, yet right in the nick of time! I’d love to sit down and talk with her about her courage and determination not only in getting herself out of a horrible position but also her drive to get others out too. I’ll look forward to what you’ll share later, Andrew.
I love these old stories of Saints who persevered and arrived with freedom. Your last statement was so true as we share what Jesus has done for us. “Our victories aren’t only for us. They’re to help others find victory also.”
I agree, Hazel. We can get a lot of encouragement from looking backwards at how the generations before us persevered through hard times–and came out victorious in the end. Their victories are still helping us. Now what will I do with mine…..
I love reading stories of people in history that were going through horrific, scary times, but sought the Lord and depended on Him for their daily strength and joy. You have me thinking now, What can I do to help someone that is now where I’ve been? Great story, Lisa.
War Eagle ;)
I’m glad it’s making you think too, Alecia. It’s a little daunting to think in terms of anything that Harriet Tubman did! :) But to much smaller degrees, we are definitely equipped to help others come to freedom, each in our own ways.
And yes, War Eagle! I hope to get down for a basketball game soon and see Coach Pearl in action. :)
What a Wonderful prayer; and encouragement to be a blessing right where we are and out of our own experiences.
I thought the prayer was too good to not give it some special attention. I hope to incorporate it more into my own life. It shows such a strong faith and dependence upon the Lord’s goodness. Yes, something we all can do right where the Lord has placed us!
I don’t think I knew that Harriet Tubman was a Christian. What a wonderful testimony, and both convicting and inspiring that she did not just escape herself but went back for others.
Definitely an inspiration that she put herself in danger to go back over and over for others. I’m not sure I would have done that. :(
Harriet Tubman is one of the Christian heroes featured in Dave & Neta Jackson’s books, “Hero Tales.” The 4 volumes were required reading for my girls in our homeschool back in the day. Michelle DeRusha also includes Harriet Tubman in her book “50 Women Every Christian Should Know.” You may have already read that; I can’t remember if you reviewed it or not. I have only skimmed through it so far, but I look forward to reading through it all this year. There are several women in it that I’m totally unfamiliar with.
Amen to that prayer. :)
Yes, may it be so for each of us. Thanks, Lyli.
“What have we survived?
Who can we go back for that needs a rescue?”
I love the way you put those questions! I never thought o9f it in quite that way, who needs rescuing from something I survived?
Again, always provoking me to think! Thanks, Lisa!
I have to ask those questions of myself too. I find it interesting that sometimes others recognize those answers for us, before we do ourselves, and come to us for our help. But I’d rather be prepared and have thought it through already, when possible. Proactive rather than reactive. Hope you have a blessed weekend, Jerralea!
Powerful, Lisa. It’s only when we’re really helping other people that we can truly be fulfilled. I have a friend who was a world-class athlete, and he says he gets more joy out of seeing the success of the athletes he now coaches.
Wow, the athlete is a great example of this principle at work, Loren. Coaching others to reach their greatest potential is applicable across all disciplines, so certainly it’s true in our spiritual lives as well. Thanks for sharing this.