Women’s Devotional – Day 6
It was Mother’s Day, and I was sitting completely alone in church, surrounded by Godly women and their families, who had clearly made better choices in life than me. I was going through a very messy divorce, struggling to raise my son alone, working full time and overtime to make ends meet and barely holding it all together.
Hearing the words that describe the Proverbs 31 woman, all I could think was that I could never measure up to her. I was full of doubt and shame, I blamed myself for my situation and worst of all, I felt worthless. I looked around me, compared myself and felt less than.
This woman with such noble qualities, fierce strength, and Godly character – I was completely daunted and thought I could never be her. I could never measure up to such virtue and accomplishment. Thankfully, God did not allow me to believe that lie, but instead, revealed the truth to me through His Word in Proverbs 31:10-31:
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be
praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Who was this strong and commendable woman who could hold her head up and laugh at the days to come without worry or fear? Who could have such faith in God and His hand in her life that she does not worry and stress about the future, but rather trusts in Her Lord to be working in all of it? Where did her strength, dedication and dignity come from? She was not familiar to me at the time, but through reading and reflection on this verse, and spending time with God asking Him to mold and shape me, I have come to know her well and thank God that He provided me a path directly to Him.
The truth God helped me to realize was that I am her – God created me and that is how He sees me. In Ephesians 2:10, it says “for we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Rather than judging myself for being less than, I now hold fast to the hope that I can be what God made me to be, that I can live up to His desires for me in my life, I can be who He says I am.
At first, I did not understand that these words weren’t meant to be a harsh judgement or
unattainable goal, which is what the world would have you believe. I also did not understand that this wasn’t something I could ever do by myself, without God. All my own strength and persistence would not bring me any close to perfection. That would only be possible through relationship with God. Only then did I see that the verse is actually a guidebook – a detailed checklist – for things that I can work on in my life in order to be closer to God and allow Him access to change me, and work to reveal those qualities in me that I had covered with my doubt and shame. He did not want me to remain in that dark place, and His Word lifted me out of it.
In a world consumed with social media that promotes outward perfection which is really only made to look perfect through filters that cover up all flaws, it is easy for us to compare ourselves to others and feeling as though we just do not measure up or that we have to cover up our imperfections. In God, we are only made righteous through the blood of Jesus, through repentance and His forgiveness. There is nothing we can do on our own to try to measure up, we can only be thankful for the gift we have been given and live a life to reflect that gift.
I will never be perfect, but when I fail, I go to the Lord and pray for forgiveness. When I succeed, I thank Him for His provision and grace. I strive and stretch to be like the Proverbs 31 woman – she is a diligent worker, never lazy, she is wise and strong and watches over her household and her family. She is a blessing to those who know her, and she serves others selflessly and with true joy, and accomplishes this all through true relationship with God.
Many years later, I can look back on that Mother’s Day and see God’s hand on every area of my life and feel sincere gratitude for His grace and love for me, and for providing me with a verse that has become a mantra for my life. I have it memorized, and I repeat it to myself every single day. I am a wife of noble character, I am a child of God, I am His daughter, and I am worth far more than rubies.
Reflection:
- Rather than comparing yourself to others, how can you find the ways in your life that God is holding you up and helping you become the woman he made you to be?
- Look closely at your life and thank God for how He created you and made you to be a woman after His own heart.
- What standards are you measuring yourself by? The world’s standards or God’s standards?
- Be encouraged that God created you to be a woman of noble character and a Godly example to other women.
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for showing me the ways to be a virtuous woman through your Word. I pray that you would continue to mold and shape my character and walk with me through my life on a good and Godly path. Thank you for providing the picture and standards of noble character for me to reflect upon, and for putting the breath in my lungs each day that allows me to wake up and honor you with acts of service for my family, loved ones, friends and my community. I am blessed to be your daughter and pray that everything I do reflects You and Your character.