God's Woman: Clara Brown
- Jun 6, 2015
- 2 min read
Courageous, diligent, persevering and tenacious; these are all qualities of an historical African-American woman named Clara Brown (1803-1889). Her life story is featured in a book called "Clara: An ex-slave in Gold Rush Colorado".
She had four children, three of whom died in slavery along with her husband. She searched high and low for her long-lost daughter, Eliza. I'm sure that the scriptural passage from Galatians 6:9, ''Let us not be weary in well doing…. ", kept Clara going during the long quest for her daughter. She did finally find her. Clara was a woman of faith and hard work. After she was freed from slavery, at age 56, she headed west and encouraged other free blacks to do the same. Clara soared, leveraging earnings from her laundry business, her gold-mining interests and the twenty-three properties that she owned. Her friendships with moneymakers held her in good stead when, in 1863, she sold many of her mining interests during the run-up of mining property prices. Clara made more than a quarter of a million dollars in today's value. Clara had a very generous heart. She was always there to help others, white or black. Another scripture that probably kept her going was "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 In the Denver area, Clara also founded many churches. She considered them good investments in her community.
Yes, Clara Brown was a true Proverbs 31 woman, a woman of faith, character and godly integrity! "She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity…. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:24 -27
Have you ever felt alone, forsaken, broken-hearted or grief-stricken like Clara Brown? In Psalm 34:18 the Word says, "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted". Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 Trust in those promises.
Clara's story has so inspired me to trust God in the midst of adversity. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Psalm 23:4
When having to face life's tough decisions as Clara had to and when we really don't know which path to take, we can find comfort in the scripture, "Show me the right path, O Lord, point out the road for me to follow ... Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose." Psalm 25: 4 and 12.
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