Proverbs 31 Woman

You Are Worth Celebrating

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Do you ever find yourself feeling like you don’t measure up because of what you’ve been through?

Me too.

I remember when I first read Proverbs 31, which describes a woman of noble character, many years ago as a young wife and mom. I thought the Proverbs 31 woman was overwhelmingly perfect.

And as I’ve walked through hardship in my life over the last few years, I’ve found myself not just intimidated by Proverbs 31 but defeated by this wife whose marriage seemed full of praises. Even good marriages don’t always have such shiny realities.  

That’s why my heart feels especially tender toward those of you who rather skip over Proverbs 31. I know what it’s like to have these words sit heavy on your heart with a resounds declaration of “I’m not enough.”

But what if I told you the heart behind Proverbs 31:10-31 is one of celebration and not condemnation?

The first thing I want us to take note of is that this isn’t just a chapter about a wife of noble character. It’s a chapter about a woman of valor. A courageous woman. A woman of strength and dignity.

And the fact that you are reading this devotional, seeking God, and pursuing healing for the painful circumstances you’ve walked through is evidence that you are a woman of valor, courage, strength, and dignity. So Proverbs 31 is for you and me.

And in the Jewish culture, these verses are read out loud on the Sabbath as a celebration over the women. This is in no way condemning what they aren’t, but celebrating how they, in their own unique expressions, live out the virtues detailed in this chapter. These aren’t words meant to tell a woman she is supposed to be more. They are a celebration of who she is.

Isn’t that the way it should be?

Courageous women celebrating other- and those they love celebrating them. All under the banner of honoring God, serving out of love, and smiling at the future.

I also love how Proverbs 31:30 reminds us what is truly worth celebrating: “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised: (ESV).

Notice it’s not a woman with a spotless house who is to be praised. It’s not the mom with perfectly behaved children who never skips pages when reading books to them. Honestly, it’s not even just for a woman who is married and has children.

It’s a woman who fears the Lord who is to be praised. This isn’t an “I’m afraid of God” kind of fear. This type of fear is referring to having a heart completely in awe of God. It describes a woman who honors God by seeking Him in everything she does and trusting Him wholeheartedly with her life. She has a heart of reverence that overflows into a life of spiritual maturity and wisdom.

And let’s not forget to look at today’s verses within the context of why God gave us this book of the Bible. The very first chapter of Proverbs tells us it exists so we can gain wisdom, instruction, understanding, insight, knowledge, discretion, and guidance (vv. 1-7). Proverbs 2:1-5 goes on to remind us that as we receive and apply God’s commands, we will be able to understand how to find knowledge of the Lord.

Wisdom is both a gift from God and a process of learning.

I know this passage of Scripture can easily trip us up. But what if we take God at His Word and choose to believe these words hold good and pleasant things for us? What if we challenge ourselves to look at Proverbs 31 closely, seeing what part of it is a gift to us and what verses we need to learn from? What if we speak these words over ourselves and the other women in our lives as a form of celebration instead of condemnation, realizing that our stories don’t disqualify us.

God tucked these words into His Word for all eternity, dear friend. And that tells me they are needed and meant for our good. Let’s ask Him to help us learn from them today.

Father God, I confess that at times I look at the Proverbs 31 woman and feel like I will never be enough. But I realize the purpose isn’t to shame me for all that I feel like I’m not. Her example is there to remind me to look to You and live for You in all that I do. Help me receive these words from You as a gift. And show me how to live them out according to the unique way You purposefully designed me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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