From Worn to Worthy: How God Views the Women the World Dares to Limit

By Ashley Nadine Schaber

What are you clothed in? I don’t mean what you’re literally wearing, but from a spiritual perspective - what are you clothed in? Does it seem like you are wearing the weight of the world? Do you feel worn down and drained of passion? Because of the world’s objectified perception of women, it can be easy to feel clothed in things that don’t do us justice, and oftentimes end up making us feel unworthy.

But, conversely I shall ask: What do you desire to be clothed in? I assume things like love, strength, truth, hope and dignity may now be at the forefront of your mind. Well, what if there was a voice proclaiming those truths over you? One who sees you as everything you were created to be, no matter what you’re wearing?

From Worn to Worthy explores the harsh realities of how the world views women through a lens of objectification, and contrasts them with the truth of how God views women. From there, it implores the women reading to cling to God’s viewpoint, clothe themselves in His promises, and seek after Him down a path of true justice, healing, obedience, and love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664213012

Ashley Nadine Schaber

Ashley Nadine Schaber studied Criminal Justice as part of the Honors College at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and focused her research on the worldwide objectification of women and girls and its societal consequences: violence against women and girls, and commercial sexual exploitation. Apart from her studies, Ashley was the President of a student-led ministry on her campus throughout college, and has participated in numerous international and domestic relief and developmental mission trips. Ashley plans to begin Graduate studies focused on Ministry Leadership and Theology soon, and in the meantime enjoys working in human services, writing, travelling, and spending time with her mother and brother.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 Ashley Nadine Schaber.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author

and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of

the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of

people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®,

NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by

permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.

com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered

in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1300-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1301-2 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/09/2020

for my mother and grandmother - the truest

and strongest women I know

Two days after I finished the manuscript for this book,

George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis Police Officer.

That day changed the course of my summer, opened my

eyes to the true realities of police brutality and racial

injustice, and caused me to put this book on the back burner

for over a month while I worked on educating myself, and

protested for true justice for George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Although this book is focused on women, I cannot publish

it without mentioning the tension of the time at which it is

being brought to life. I cannot and will not stay silent any

longer. True justice must be sought, in Jesus’ Name.

Black Lives Matter.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1     Seek Justice

Chapter 2     The Verdict

Chapter 3     Brokenness

Chapter 4     Freedom?

Chapter 5     Asking Different Questions

Chapter 6     Daughter

Chapter 7     He is Good

Chapter 8     A Touch of Faith

Chapter 9     180

Chapter 10   One Word

Chapter 11   Our Purpose

Chapter 12   What a Catastrophe

Chapter 13   Prove It

Acknowledgements

Appendix

Citations

INTRODUCTION

A t my grandmother’s memorial service a couple of years ago, I read a section from Proverbs 31 entitled A Wife of Noble Character. It’s a very popular passage of Scripture in general, and I’d say it’s probably the most popular one written about a woman. The description it gives can extend far beyond just women who are wives, to describe the virtues associated with any woman of noble character. And, the passage is one which wholly resembles my grandmother, Nadine. She indeed was worth far more than rubies, as someone who always treated people she met with kindness, loyalty, and honesty. She did indeed set about her work vigorously, her arms strong for her tasks, as she worked hard for many years to provide for her family during a time when women were seldomly viewed as strong. She opened her arms to the poor and extended her hands to the needy, to ensure she helped those in need whom she encountered.

My grandma was indeed clothed in strength and dignity, as the passage’s most famous verse reads. She was clothed in strength when just about everything in her life seemed like an uphill battle, and clothed in dignity when it seemed like all was lost. She spoke wisdom, watched over the affairs of her house, was called blessed, and most importantly, was a woman who feared the Lord. Grandma Nadine was, I’d argue, the God-given spiritual glue that held our family together. She was the one whose first words each morning and last words each night were in prayer for each member of her family. She was an encourager, a teacher, a leader, and a faithful servant of the Lord. She was soft-spoken, but courageous. She was small and frail, especially towards the end of her life, but she nonetheless spoke with a power and courage that could have only come from the King of kings Himself. Grandma Nadine’s life displayed characteristics of God’s faithfulness, even in the worst of situations, for she was living in the truth of Christ’s Love, no matter what circumstances the world brought her way.

And I believe her ability to do so was because of what she was clothed in. Instead of being clothed in fear, she was clothed in the strength of Almighty God. Instead of being clothed in the expectations of the world, she was clothed in the truths God speaks through His Word. Instead of wearing the weight of the world, she clothed herself in the peace and justice that God Himself offers to those who are in relationship with Him. At the same time, did she still suffer? Did she still experience loss and hurt and injustice? Yes. I’m sure just about every woman who worked and raised a family in her generation did. But the strength she had to overcome challenges and trust God amidst situations she never expected came from being clothed in His righteousness. Amidst injustice, her courage came from seeking out He who is just, and putting on the Armor He offers - even if it wasn’t the most comfortable or Instagram-worthy. And my grandmother seemed to do it with ease. While writing this book, I am keeping her in mind. As each new author discovers, this book has brought me to places I never imagined. And it has brought me to my knees more than a few times. At certain moments it seemed like calling upon God’s wisdom and praying that He would also clothe me in strength and dignity was all I was capable of amidst the realities of our broken world. And by doing so, because of His faithfulness, He allowed me to dig deeper than I ever planned to discern both who God is, and who I am.

So, my goal through this book is to investigate Scripture and explore the truth of what God says about women, and how He sees us in contrast to how the world sees us. I pray that you will join me in this journey - as I know this book will bring you to uncomfortable places. It will expose harsh realities about the way women are objectified by the world, and taken advantage of by those who are in it. It will allow you and me to dig deeper to a place we possibly have never been before - a place that is most definitely not Instagram-worthy. But, if you stay with me through our exploration of the brokenness of this world - I promise you, it’ll be worth it.

Our God (not to give too much of a spoiler) is victorious in the end. Our God will always be for us, no matter how much the world challenges us. No matter what the world says or thinks of us. Our God Loves us with a divine Love that is outside our capacity of understanding. He gives us peace, and joy, and justice. With Him by our side, just like my grandma, we can be more than conquerors. And if we trust Him, He will call us to do incredible things - He will heal us, forgive us, and call us to obedience and discipleship. He will allow us the opportunity to love one another, and He will always prove Himself true when we call upon Him.

So my question for you as we begin this journey is: What are you clothed in? As you read this today, from a spiritual perspective - What are you clothed in? Does it seem like you are wearing the weight of the world? Do you feel clothed in brokenness? Do you feel worn? Are you physically, mentally, or spiritually worn down and drained of passion? Are you clothed in the opinions of others? Clothed in shame? Clothed in fear?

And conversely I shall ask: What do you desire to be clothed in? The Love of an Almighty Father? The truth of what He says about you? Strength and Dignity?

Come with me. Although you cannot see it, I’m extending my hand out to you in this moment.

Let’s find out how God, the Almighty King of truth and Love, views us - the women the world dares to limit.

ONE

SEEK JUSTICE

27711.png

M y college years began in a determined pursuit of a type of justice I knew just had to exist. A type of justice I advocated for through years of mock trial in high school. It was a type of justice I hoped at the time to spend my life pursuing through criminal law. So, I left my hometown of Elk River, Minnesota, and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to study pre-law and attend law school, hoping to one day work as a federal prosecutor.

How I ended up in Las Vegas from Elk River is a different story for a different day, but nonetheless I arrived freshman year eager to learn about criminal procedure, and to begin seeking what I presumed was true, honest justice for victims - by putting all of the bad guys in jail.

But, I learned quickly that I had been naive to the realities and shortcomings of the American criminal justice system. That it was and is actually a system which often enhances iniquities, inequalities, and sin. And furthermore, that justice - true, honest, pure, Jesus-like justice - probably wasn’t something I’d be likely to find in an American courtroom.

As I walked into my first pre-law class, Intro to Criminal Law, my mind was excited in anticipation. Here it was, my dream beginning right before my eyes. Everything was going to change that day.

I intentionally walked to the very back row despite my excitement for