Proverbs 31:25-27 "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness."

At the start of each season, don’t we all want to look ahead with laughter? We try to enter a season with hope and joy. We think we can make it good by planning it out, self improvement, closing out the previous chapter and maybe even trying to forget it. When I quiet myself, open my bible and read Proverbs 31, I end up thinking of looking forward differently. I think of the future in a more longline way: not cutting myself off from all that was before with a “fresh” start. Rather I can look at my journey in a continuous line of growth. When I, day by day, set my eyes on Jesus, let Him fill me with biblical wisdom, and live my life His way (obey) I genuinely can laugh freely without fear of what may come. Jesus assures us that in this life we will have trouble. The Word also assures us that the Lord intends to give us hope and a future. This passage in Proverbs provides some practical tools to help us live without fear.

1. A fearlessly joyful woman clothes herself, puts on strength and dignity. She doesn’t accept indecency or helplessness. She finds ways to live and serve with integrity where God has her.

2. A fearlessly joyful woman speaks with wisdom and gives instructions with kindness. She educates herself, looks for ways to grow, practices what she has learned, and then with sincere kindness disciples others.

3. A fearlessly joyful woman carefully watches over her household. She doesn’t put up with laziness from herself or those in her household. She doesn’t leave her responsibilities for her children or husband to do. In her workplace outside of the house, she doesn't leave her colleagues to cover her responsibilities. She learns how her house works and shows up to do the work. Her husband and kids know they can depend on her. They know she is vigilant and diligent. In turn others are encouraged to do likewise.

Struggles will still come to the woman of God but because she abides with Him, there is nothing to be afraid of. She walks with Him and in His ways. Not even death can separate her from Him. Therefore she is content, full of peace and laughing.

Challenge

Ask the Lord to search your heart and hold it up to the light of this passage. Maybe you need to focus on “clothing yourself with strength” or “clothing yourself with dignity”. Or possibly ask and seek the Lord for true wisdom. This could look like reading a passage or Proverb every day for a month and writing down what you learn. This could look like cutting off a worldly source of wisdom like social media or books that point you to yourself rather than Jesus. Maybe you have let laziness creep in. Letting things fall into disarray and chaos leads to fearfulness. If you are living with fear, using these tools from the Lord will help to root it out. Use a journal to record what God says, which tool(s) He says to use, and what happens as a result.