By Dr Leonora Alberts-Vilakazi
We usually talk about it in terms of the grand and abstract faith in the universe, faith in the unseen, or faith that everything will somehow work out in the end.
But some of the quietest, most radical faith you will ever exercise is far closer to home. It’s the simple, steady act of having faith in her.
Whether ‘she’ is your partner, your mother, your daughter, your best friend, or the woman looking back at you in the mirror, placing your trust in her spirit isn’t just an act of love – it’s an anchor in a noisy world.
The Quiet Power We Tend to Miss
We live in a culture that loves high-decibel strength. We applaud the loud wins, the bold speeches, and the obvious displays of power. But the strength of the women around us often operates on a different frequency. It’s in the marathon endurance, the instinct that picks up on what isn’t being said, and the quiet resilience that puts a life back together after a storm without making a sound.
Having faith in her means recognising that strength long before it lands on a trophy shelf. It means trusting her intuition when she makes a call that doesn’t make sense on paper yet.
Women are conditioned from a young age to second-guess their instincts, to ask for permission, to hedge their bets, and to apologise for taking up space. When you offer her your unwavering belief, you give her something invaluable: a mirror that reflects her own capability back to her, unclouded by self-doubt.
Faith Is Easy at the Finish Line
But she needs it in the middle.
It’s easy to believe in someone when they’re wearing the crown or holding the trophy. Anyone can cheer from the sidelines during a victory lap. Real faith proves itself when she is stuck in the messy, unglamorous middle.
When she’s starting over: Starting a business, changing careers, or walking away from something that no longer serves her takes immense courage. Having faith in her means being the voice that says, “I know you’ve got this,” when her own voice is shaking.
When she’s exhausted: Sometimes, having faith in her isn’t about pushing her to do more; it’s about trusting that her decision to rest is just as wise as her drive to hustle.
When she fails: Because she will, we all do. Faith isn’t believing she will never stumble; it’s knowing with absolute certainty that she has what it takes to get back up. When you hold space for her failure without offering panic or pity, you give her the freedom to take real risks. You become a safe landing pad, and that safety is often the very thing that allows her to fly higher next time.
What Happens When ‘Her’ Is You?
There’s another side to this coin that we don’t talk about enough: having faith in the woman you are becoming.
It is easy to extend grace and belief to the women in our lives while keeping a harsh, hyper-critical standard for ourselves. We trust our best friend’s judgment implicitly, but we analyse our own decisions until they fall apart under the microscope.
Having faith in yourself doesn’t mean having it all figured out. It means:
Trusting your timeline: Accepting that you aren’t late; you’re just on your own path.
Honouring your gut: Listening to that quiet inner wisdom that tells you when a situation, a job, or a relationship isn’t right.
Forgiving your past self: Understanding that you made the best choices you could with the information and tools you had at the time.
When you cultivate faith in yourself, you stop looking for external validation to clear your path. You start moving forward simply because you trust your own feet to carry you.
The Ripple Effect of Believing in Her
Faith is contagious. When a woman feels deeply trusted and believed in, it changes the way she walks into a room. It changes the risks she’s willing to take, the boundaries she’s willing to enforce, and the love she’s willing to accept.
And it doesn’t stop with her. A woman who is backed by faith becomes a powerhouse of encouragement for everyone around her. She builds stronger families, creates better workplaces, and fosters communities where people feel seen and valued.
By believing in her, you aren’t just investing in one person – you’re investing in everyone she reaches.
So, take a moment today to look at the women in your orbit. Tell her you believe in her; not just in what she does, but in who she is. And if ‘she’ happens to be you, give yourself a little credit.
You’ve made it through 100% of your hardest days so far, and that is a record worth putting your faith in.