“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the future.” Proverbs 31: 25

 

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman, a composite of the ideal woman, wife, and mother. And if you have never read this passage of scripture, I would encourage you to take a few minutes to read it. Her attributes seem unattainable, yet I know many of you model these character traits. You might not think you do, but listen to some of what she does:

She is a manufacturer, an importer, a realtor, a manager, a farmer, a seamstress, and a businesswoman.

I think many of you ladies fall into these categories as you not only work, but you care for your husband, children, neighbors, and aging parents. You are also resourceful, using your God-given gifts to bless those around you!

And while we could talk all day about this super-woman who makes many of us feel inadequate, I think it’s important to note a few things:

1. She is a composite of an ideal woman– We don’t need to see her as a model to imitate in every detail. I’m not sure our days are long enough to do all that she does! But she can be an inspiration to us to be all that we can be. We can’t be just like her because God has given us all different gifts, and we should be content with those gifts. But we can learn from her industry, integrity, and resourcefulness.
2. Even if we are not a wife or a mother, we can still emulate her qualities. We might not have a husband who praises us or children to rise up and call us blessed, but we can still have a tremendous impact through our character and the life we live on those around us. Co-workers, siblings, unsaved family members, nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends. The Proverbs 31 woman is a woman’s woman. We all should look to her as a role model, regardless of our situation in life.
3. Finally, while this gal is a doer, a true Martha at heart, her strength and dignity don’t come from her achievements. They come from her reverence for God and her fear of the Lord. I think we can assume she possessed the quiet and gentle spirit that 1 Peter 3:3-4 speaks about. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, rather it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” We never hear about this woman’s appearance; we read about her attributes and her attitude.

Truly, attitude is everything. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:23, “Be made new in the attitude of your minds.”

We might not be able to change our situation, but we can change our attitude about the situation. It’s not always easy, but that’s where God’s supernatural power comes in. He enables us to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. But we must first be willing to give all things to Him and surrender our outlook and the outcomes to our Sovereign God.

How do we approach the future with a happy heart when our situation looks bleak, we are in crisis mode, the test results show cancer, the divorce is final, or the bank account is empty? Let’s look at our super-woman role model:

*She was clothed with strength– Isaiah 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”  I doubt she loved rising early every day. I’m sure she had bad days like we all do, where weariness set in and she needed supernatural power. She probably had moments of murmuring where she didn’t feel like doing all the things necessary, but she dressed herself in the strength that God offered to her and offers to each one of us daily. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31) He will renew our attitude, and equip us with the strength necessary to get through our days- to walk through the crisis and the hardships with strength and victory.

*This woman had dignity– the definition of dignity is the state of being worthy of honor or respect. A calm, serious, and controlled behavior that makes people respect you. She was poised and virtuous, level-headed and temperate. She had decency and decorum. She knew her God, and she knew her value because of Him. Are we temperate and self-controlled or are we flying off the handle because of our circumstances? These are certainly character traits in which we can aspire!

She had strength and she had dignity. But how was she able to laugh at the future? Please read my next blog, “Preparing Our Heart and Home for the Future.”