In my earlier post Here Comes Trouble, I talked about the good kind of trouble—the kind that might even have you humming along to that 1990s country classic, “T‑R‑O‑U‑B‑L‑E.” But when we look at Jesus and His disciples, “trouble” takes on a deeper meaning. It isn’t distress or anxiety; it’s a holy disruption—an interruption that transforms lives. Jesus’s trouble reshaped the world in the first century, and its Ripple Effects continue to move through history.

Of course, unlike Jesus, the rest of us aren’t perfect, so when we stir up trouble, it often comes with a bit of unrest or disorder. But that doesn’t make it bad. Sometimes disruption is exactly what’s needed.

Think about the many Troublesome Women who have changed the world. Who could deny that Mother Teresa disrupted the status quo everywhere she went? Her advocacy for the most vulnerable certainly caused discomfort for some—but without her willingness to disturb complacency, countless children would have suffered.

A friend recently recommended The Book Club for Troublesome Women, and it prompted me to reflect on the generation of women just before mine. Consider the brilliant women of NASA portrayed in Hidden Figures, or the athletes who broke barriers in sports long before it was acceptable—or safe—to do so. At some point, each of them was likely labeled “troublesome.” Yet without their courage to push boundaries, our society would look very different today.

As I think about the women in sports who paved the way for my own opportunities, I feel a responsibility to share their stories. Emerging Generations deserve to know the history that shaped the freedoms and possibilities they now enjoy.

When we weave faith into the stories of these Troublesome Women, the narrative becomes even richer. Their lives remind us that we are meant to live in community—standing on the shoulders of those who came before us, walking beside those who share our present, and following a Savior who guides us through both flourishing and floundering moments in our lives.

Communities grow stronger when someone is willing to stir the pot in meaningful, healthy ways. Kristin Hannah captures this beautifully in The Women when she writes, “Women can be heroes.” And they are—every single day. In healthcare. In law enforcement. In the military. In education. And yes, in sports.

Whether we’re reading about the fictional heroines created by Hannah and Bostwick, the Tennessee trailblazers highlighted by Mary Ellen Pethel, or the women of Scripture illuminated by Jenny Erlingsson in Becoming His, these stories matter. Every woman’s story matters. Too often, they simply remain untold. So, I encourage us to think about the women who have impacted us the most. Whose stories of gratitude, grit, and growth have gone untold? Is it too late to share those now? To allow women of faith to be recognized for the way they have used their God-Given Space to better the lives of those around them. If you have a story to share, please consider reaching out or sharing in the comments below. Do not let people’s stories remain silent. God can use these to change lives.

References:

Bostwick, M. (2025). The book club for troublesome women: A novel. [Kindle version]. Harper Muse.

Erlingsson, J. (2016). Becoming His: Finding your place as a daughter of God. Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.

Hannah, K. (2024). The women. St. Martin’s Publishing Group.

Pethel, M.E. (2022). Title IX, Pat Summitt, and Tennessee’s trailblazers: 50 years, 50 stories. University of Tennessee Press.