It almost broke my heart.
When I sat down with my friend, Lynn Cowell, she shared a statistic that hit me hard.
She said that a girl’s confidence is at its peak by the age of 9.
Nine years old.
That’s a baby. That’s the brink of change. That’s when she is a dreamer.
[bctt tweet=”Permission to be brave begins with giving ourselves permission to fail. #BraveBeautyBook @lynncowell #livingfreetogether #giveaway” username=”suzanneeller”]
It’s also a time when she’s experiencing life. Even if she’s protected by those who love her, she’s discovering that life isn’t always equal.
When I look around at the girls and women around me, I wonder about their 9-year-old self. I wonder if she was fearless. If she thought she could do anything. I wonder if we — as strong, faith-filled women — could not only rediscover our fearless self, but pass that on to all the girls coming up behind us.
I think we can.
I think it’s a conversation worth having.
We’ve been in a Summer of Permission series, and today we are going to give ourselves permission to be brave. But that starts with giving ourselves permission to try new things. That begins as we offer ourselves permission to fail.
I hope you’ll tune in to today’s vlog, and more than that, I’d love to hear what you have to say.
Share what it means to you to be brave, or why it’s important. Tell me what that fearless you looks like, with God’s help.
[bctt tweet=”Anytime we learn something, it costs us something. #brave #livingfreetogether @lynncowell” username=”suzanneeller”]
I am praying that this book lands in the hands of tween girls all over the nation. I pray that student leaders will share it with their tweens, and that moms or aunts or guardians will nestle with a girl and breathe truth into her heart.
Last, I pray that this same truth covers you. There’s a fearless you living inside, and it’s never too late for her to emerge.
Suzie
Meet Lynn Cowell
She’s strong. She’s fun. She has one of the most servant-hearted spirits I’ve ever known. She’ll stop and pray at the drop of a hat, and it’s sweet and genuine.
She’s written several books, speaks across the nation, and is currently working on a Bible study for women. Her book, Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You releases in three weeks, but it’s available for preorder today. (It’s almost half-price on preorder!)
Connect with Lynn Cowell on her blog, on Facebook, and Twitter.
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Great article!!
Wow, that’s incredible – at the age of 9. I look back and see I had fearless dreams but was then in a very constricted place. God restores dreams to his older girls – now 49 and fearlessness is saying yes to the call of God and yes to abundant living! I have a 14 year old girl, so this very much resonates!
I didn’t know about Lynn’s book. I love that title. How sad that a girl is at her most self-confidant at age 9. I so appreciate Lynn’s ministry and that idea to encourage girls to try new things. (Makes me think I can encourage my 18 year old who is dying to go to university outside of Texas. 🙂 Far away from our home state.
I’m giving myself the permission to be brave by writing a book to help busy, distracted women find more meaningful connection with God. 🙂
In the process of raising four boys who are fast becoming men, I haven’t given this topic much thought — except that now my oldest son and his wife are expecting a girl! I want to speak truth into that little girl’s life, and I especially don’t want to speak lies unintentionally by the way I model what it is to be a Christian woman. Thanks for pressing in to this important topic!
Wow, Suzie, that statistic is astounding! I had no idea. I have 3 girls ages 7-12 and the thought that their confidence is built by age 9 is rather scary.
Im asking myself what do I want confidence to look like in my girls?
Confidence to me looks like the freedom to be who God created them to be. To not give into the urges to “fit in” and be like everyone else, even though those pressures are all around them. The freedom to express their gifts and talents in a way that pleases the Lord, without fear that it’s not “cool” or embarrassing. I want confidence for my girls to be a security in who they are in Christ. I want those truths to be louder than the voices all around them. I want them to be able to look insecurity and fear in the face and tell them who their God is and they will not be moved.
Thank you for sharing this resource today. I will definitely be getting this book for my girls. This will be a great one for us to read through together!
Love, love, love this! Cannot wait to share this book with my daughter!
Julia, you are the winner of the giveaway today! Share your address with me and Lynn will send a copy to you!
I have been WAITING for this book to come out!!! Cannot wait to get it into my hands. This statistic definitely takes me back. I have a 9 year old baby girl. Wowza. Lynn, thank you for your wisdom and passion. Suzie, thank you for sharing this! You girls are incredible.
Wow, I was amazed by this statistic. I have an 8 yr old granddaughter. I will definitely get this book and share it with her. I want her to grow up with the confidence that I’ve never had. I want her to have her confidence so rooted in God that when life hits her as it already has, with the death of her other grandmother at the age of 4 and now her little brother this year, she will know that God is still there and that this is helping her to grow into the girl and woman that God wants her to be.
I am so excited for this book! I have two daughters, 12 and 10. My oldest used to be so bold and outgoing and friendly and compassionate, but life sort of beat her into submission the last few years. Possibly around or a bit earlier than the statistic age of 9. We are working hard now to rebuild her identity in Christ. To teach her that she shouldn’t be wishing she could just disappear but to KNOW and claim her place in this world. She was created with a wonderful purpose and gifts to give others. We pray she realizes she IS a gift. I so want to see my girl come back. Thank you for coming out with material like this that will certainly help!
Amazing! nine??
The older I get, the easier to try new things. Maybe because I’ve failed and lived to learn from it. Lord, have mercy but He does, and gets behind me and gives a big shove whenever I’m introduced to the Next New Thing on His amazing list of life.
That is amazing, and very sad! Thanks to the two of you wonderful ladies for helping us to not only empower ourselves, but our girls as well!
As a woman, to be brave means a lot of things. Be brave to worship fully with heart mind and spirit regardless of who is around me. Be brave to love even when you heartache might be the outcome, or the person seems unworthy of love. Be brave to be %100 you and who God called you to be, regardless of what the world tells you you should be. Be brave enough to stand up for the gospel regardless to who it might offend for not conforming to the laws of man and what they say is right or wrong when the gospel says otherwise.
Jessica – you are so right. Following God fully does mean being brave. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to be just that!
I forgot one. Be brave enough to forgive. Regardless of what happened, and who did what. Forgive, as God forgave, and still forgives us when we fall short of who He called us to be.
I love the idea of this book! I have three daughters that need godly courage… and so do I. Brace means doing what God wants, saying what God wants in His strength. Being fearless knowing we are living the way that honors God even if it is frowned upon by ones we love. We have confidence knowing God is who we answer to.
What beautiful and powerful definitions, Michele!
Hi Suzie and Lynn! What a great book! I’ve noticed that our ten-year-old daughter’s confidence has nose-dived over the last year. Now it makes perfect sense. My heart hurts watching self-doubt erode her old, unabashed confidence. Can’t wait to pick up a copy for her!
Allison, having a mom come along side her and fill her heart and mind with truth will go a long way with your girl!
I would love to have this book to give to my granddaughter who is 10 and doesn’t go to church. I’m sure this would give her a great perspective to think about.
Thank you so much for being such an intentional grandma, Priscilla!
This book would be great for my daughter and I to read together.
I agree! My daughter will be 10 in a couple of months and I would love to read this with her. Let’s teach our girls what it means to be a BRAVE BEAUTY! xoxoxo *shh I might need a reminder, too!* 🙂
Such an important issue. And indeed, the stat about 9-year-olds being at the peak of confidence is heart-achingly sad. So glad to hear about this book. will help get the word out.
Meanwhile, a blog that encourages being brave and persistent:
https://www.marykaymoody.com/2016/02/04/basic-training-for-heroes/
May it spark strength for you today.
Blessings, sisters!
Congratulations on your new book, Lynn! Such an important topic. Even as grown women we need encouragement to be brave.
Thank you so much, Julie! I can’t wait to see all the ways God uses this book to build up Christ confidence in the lives of young girls!
Hi, Suzie! First time commenting and participating in the link-up.
It breaks my heart that girls step into the hardest years of their lives without a good sense of self and without confidence in who God made them to be. I know quite a few little ladies that are standing on this precipice. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to them and their mothers.
So glad you are here, Marie! I agree that this book definitely meets a very deep need for so many little girls. I wish I would have had it when I was young. I’ll be recommending too — and reading it with my daughter!
Thank you so much Rebecca Lynn! I’m believing such great things for little girls as we pour God’s confidence-building truth into their hearts!
I am shocked that confidence peaks at 9. Thank you for bringing this message to us. My girls are adults now but good information for grandkids. I love what Glynis said to you, “Anytime we learn something it’s going to cost us something. ” Blessings, Maree
Thanks for giving us this opportunity to win
I think being brave is doing what is right, even when it’s not the popular thing to do.