Times have changed drastically for women over the past several decades. It's amazing to think that not too long ago, women were not allowed to vote, they didn't often drive and they didn't usually work outside of the home either. Not too long ago, it was expected for most young women to marry and have a family. Parents took care of their daughters until they married. I don't think all of these traditions were wrong, necessarily, but I am glad things have changed. I'm glad that, as a woman, I can be looked at as a person who is capable of many things and is able to be independent.

I want to clearly state that I am not trying to push feminism because I do not consider myself a feminist. I believe women are capable of many things and should be treated equally. I do not believe that men are better or worse than women, nor do I believe they are the same. God created male and female to be just that--male and female. This means they each have their roles in society, in a marriage relationship and in the family unit. But I do believe them to be equal in value. Men and women are both equally important to God. And let's face it, we need both in order to procreate.

Why do I say all these things? Well, I have noticed that with all the advances women have experienced through the years, there are still many, many lies pushed upon women which they continue to believe. Here are a few with which I have personally struggled:

1. You won't or can't be happy without a guy.

I fell into this trap early in life. I was fifteen when I started to feel the pressure of needing to find a boyfriend. I was so desperate that I did stupid things, and wound up getting hurt. Unfortunately, I witnessed many of my peers doing the same things. I thought as I got older that the feeling would go away, and that girls would stop being so silly about men. Of course, I couldn't have been more wrong. The feeling only got stronger and other women became more catty. While many women do find happiness in a relationship or marriage, as I have, being with a guy is not the right path for all women. Being in a right relationship with God is the best happiness anyone could find.

2. If you don't look a certain way, you aren't pretty.

This is one of the biggest lies, and the most believed by women. You probably compare yourself to other women constantly, and feel intimidated by women who are "prettier" than you. It sounds cliche to say that everyone is beautiful, but yet it's still true. God created each person to look the way they do. If you look at others and think they're ugly, you're essentially saying God creates ugly things. It just isn't true!

3. If you're married, you should have children.

I'm very surprised by this still being pushed, especially since so many women have chosen to become career-minded rather than family-minded. Just because you're married doesn't automatically mean you must have children. Of course, if you wish to and can't, it is devastating. But for those who do not want children, they have the right. It's time to stop harassing them.

4. You must abide by any man's wishes.

This is a horrible, horrible lie! It is true that in the Bible, God said for the woman to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22), but all too often this verse is taken out of context and stretched to excuse terrible things such as rape or sexual abuse. God did not create women to be weak and timid, allowing men (or even other women) to use them as objects for their own pleasure. If you continue reading in Ephesians 5, God commands the man to love his wife as much as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). God knows human nature. He knows it is difficult for women to submit to their husbands, but we by nature love them. For men, it is harder to naturally love. They are made to be the providers and protectors. But when the man is the opposite of a provider or protector, the woman should not put up with it!

Women continue to hear all these lies. And they continue to be believe them. We live in a fallen world, so unfortunately they will always be whispered to us by Satan himself. But we don't have to believe them and we don't have to spread them. Love your fellow sisters in Christ. We all need the encouragement!