“She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.”
Proverbs 31:25
Aloha Girls!
This verse from Proverbs 31 surprisingly, jumped off the page when I came across it last month. I was surprised it was highlighted on my heart because the Proverbs 31 woman isn’t one of my favorite women in the Bible. She can get a bad rap because she appears to be so perfect, doesn’t she? Take Esther, Deborah, Abagail, or Ruth - - these women I can relate to. They seem more ordinary. When you read their stories, you can see imperfections. They didn’t have their act together, yet God used them in extra-ordinary ways! The Proverbs 31 lady has no inadequacies listed that I can see. She’s superior in so many areas; like the modern-day Martha Stewart or the courageous movie image of Wonder Woman! Who can attain to such strength and Pinterest perfection? Because of this, many people feel discouraged by her seemingly impossible standard set for women.
So, who is this Proverb 31 Woman? Did you know that she’s not even an actual person? You can sigh a breath of relief! LOL These verses weren’t written as a ‘checklist’ or a ‘to do’ list for women. It was written as a poem by King Lemuel’s Mother describing the kind of woman, she hoped her son would find. It’s a beautiful representation of what it means to be a virtuous woman.
To be virtuous isn’t a matter of reaching perfection. Virtue simple means that your behavior displays your high moral standards. A person of virtue knows what is right and then does what is right. A virtuous woman intentionally chooses beyond what’s just good reaching toward what is best, in order to honor God with her life. Her outward actions are an indication of the virtue inside her heart. To be clothed with strength indicates a person’s capacity to withstand adversity. She’s strong, but not because she lifts weights and her abs are toned and firm. Although that’s a good thing! I wish I was strong there☺
The secret to her strength, (although it’s not really a secret since its written down for us to read); Her motivation for all she does flows out of her reverence, her devotion, her relationship with God. She’s a woman who fears the Lord. She has peace of mind, and can laugh at the uncertainties of life with her future, because she knows and trusts the Lord. Let’s be women who are clothed with strength + dignity.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30
God bless you, Karen