“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future” Prov 31:25 NLT.

Hi friend!🌻Motherhood is one of the highest callings in life, filled with sweet moments to cherish forever. But fear and inadequacy can creep in and dampen our joy when we compare ourselves to other moms.

Especially that Proverbs 31 woman! She can be just a little intimidating because she sounds like a super mom, a super wife, a super business partner, a super everything, doesn’t she? She seems so very skilled, so incredibly talented, so organized, so capable, so perfect, so _____________ (you fill in the blank!)

But the Lord doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to anyone else in our motherhood journey. To hyper focus on all her accomplishments would cause us to lose heart and miss the entire point. Instead, God desires for us to glean the ONE thing she had that we can have for ourselves as well. She had wisdom …

The entire Book of Proverbs is filled with godly wisdom and Chapter 31 is no different.  Prov 31:30 tells us: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (NIV). 

The Proverbs 31 woman feared the LORD and Prov 9:10 tells us: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

The phrase “the fear of the Lord” appears more than a dozen times in Proverbs and is pretty much the theological concept for the entire book. But what does it mean?

It does NOT mean we have to be frightened. It means we go beyond just believing He exists. We believe Him and take Him at His every Word. We own His promises in our heart as we walk with Him, talk with Him and include Him in all of our decisions because His presence is very real to us. When we don’t cultivate this godly fear and awe of God, we are prone to harbor an unhealthy fear of everything else in life.

And this is where our key focus verse comes in …

Strength and Dignity are her clothing …

This phrase highlights the virtues of strength and dignity as integral to the character of the Proverbs 31 woman. The KJV says honor in place of dignity.

The Hebrew word for honor is וְהָדָ֥ר, pronounced wə·hā·ḏār, and it means: Magnificence, ornament, splendor. And the Hebrew word for “strength” is עֹז־, pronounced ‘ōz, and it implies might and power, suggesting the virtuous woman is empowered by her faith and character.

In biblical context, clothing often symbolized a person’s identity and status. Here, honor and strength are not just attributes but visible and defining garments as well. Strength, in this context, refers to spiritual and moral fortitude, echoing the biblical call to be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10). Honor suggests a life lived with respect and integrity, which aligns with wisdom’s emphasis on living righteously (Prov 3:35).

This imagery of clothing also connects to the New Testament exhortation to “put on” the full Armor of God (Eph 6:10-18) or “put on” virtues like compassion and kindness (Col 3:12). This suggests these qualities are essential to one’s spiritual identity and it conveys a sense of confidence and peace regarding the future.

Uncertainty and hardships were common struggles in the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel so the ability to face the future with joy and assurance was significant! This confidence is rooted in faith and trust in God’s providence. Does this remind you of Jesus’ teaching in Matt 6:34, where He tells us not to worry about tomorrow? 

The anticipatory joy of the Proverb’s 31 woman can be seen as a type of the joy found in Christ, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). She is free of worry and anxiety when it comes to the future of her family because she knows the end of the Story. Her laughter is not mockery but a testament to her wisdom and faith, two qualities that are celebrated throughout the book of Proverbs.

I love how the Amplified Bible worded it:
“Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; And she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared].”

Her position is strong and secure! Oh, how I wish I had clothed myself in His strength and dignity when my girls were little. Instead of meditating on all my worries, I could have meditated on Bible Verses like these and spoken hope into my circumstances:  

• We can trust GOD knows the good plans He has for us … (Jer 29:11)
• We can cast our anxieties on Him because He cares for us … (1 Pet 5:7)
• We can be assured our LORD is fighting our battles for us … (Ex 14:14).
• We can know He is made strong in our weaknesses … (2 Cor 12:9-10).

My friend, no matter what season of motherhood you find yourself in, write down His promises that speak into your current circumstances and post them all over your home, reminding yourself that the One who fights for you will be faithful and true. Fortify your inner woman with His Truth and in His presence each day. Put on His strength and His honor and you can have a fully confident and fearless outlook on the future, deeply rooted in your trust of God’s sovereignty and provision.

As you flow in this rhythm of rest in Him, you’ll be better equiped to seek and relish the beautiful and sacred tucked away in the middle of the loud and messy of today. 

Rooting for you always …

She is Clothed with Strength and Dignity – Proverbs 31:25 for Moms @ freshgracefortoday.com

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