Women’s Day in the Baden-Wuerttemberg Conference, Germany

Who does not wish for a fulfilled and happy life without problems and major obstacles? Probably every one of us longs for such a life. However, we all live in a fallen world and have probably experienced many times that life does not always go according to our ideas and wishes. At times this can be very painful and we would hardly call it a life of abundance.
On July 2, 2023, fourty women of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Conference met in Freudenstadt to reflect and share on this topic with Dagmar Dorn, EUD Women's Ministries Director. We heard some moving life stories of women who had gone through challenging times in their lives and had not let go of God's hand. This was very encouraging.
Jesus says in John 10:10 that He came so "that they may have life, and have it to the full." But what abundance is Jesus talking about here? Does he mean that in our lives we will always have sunshine and everything will always go smoothly? Certainly not. Abundant life in this world includes a whole range of experiences - the good as well as the bad.
It is up to us how we deal with difficult situations in our lives. Do we distance ourselves from God because of shattered dreams or do they awaken in us a deep longing for Him? Do we face the challenges of life with gratitude, contentment, and acceptance and try to break away from our own ideas for our lives?
God invites us to trust Him with all our hearts. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Dietrich Bonhoeffer also believed that "There is a fulfilled life despite unfulfilled desires." The challenge here is to constantly look for our personal God-moments in our daily life and to flourish where God has placed us.
Overall, it was a very beautiful and blessed day of fellowship with wonderful conversations and very delicious vegan food. New contacts were made, old acquaintances renewed and valuable life experiences shared by young and old. Each woman was able to take something home for herself and gather strength for the new week.
According to a report by Vanessa Sala