"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." Proverbs 31:25-27

At the start of each year, don’t we all want to look ahead with laughter? We try to enter a

new year with hope and joy. We think we can make it good by planning it out, improving

ourselves, closing out the chapter of last year 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 in January. 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 but the Word also assures us that the Lord intends to give us hope and

a future. This passage in proverbs also makes me think that it is outlining 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 where God has her well and with

integrity.

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 genuine

kindness disciples others.

3. A fearlessly joyful woman carefully watches over her household and doesn’t put up with

laziness from herself or those in her household. She doesn’t leave her responsibilities for her

children, husband, or colleagues to do. 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 work 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 gospel or proverbs 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.