New Years Message From Rose
I have always been fascinated with the second part of verse 25 in Proverbs 31. To “laugh at the days to come”.Can we really? As we go into this new year many of us can’t help but think about what 2024 may bring. Continued high crime, insecure borders, wars, and rumors of war. The list of those things that we could be worried about is long and frankly frightening. IF we allow it to be.
PROVERBS 31:25
“She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.”
I once thought the second verse stood on its own – but it really doesn’t. A woman who can laugh at the days to come can only do so as she is clothed in strength and dignity.
When she is clothed in strength, she is covered in the knowledge that she is strong only in as much as she allows God to be the source of her strength; “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). We,like Paul, are strong when we are weak because when we are weak, God's grace is most powerful. Psalm 73:26—"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Nehemiah 8:10—"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Ladies, when it comes to our dignity: it is in our uniqueness as a woman, one who was designed and fashioned by God himself, that we can learn to possess dignity. Think about that – he fashioned us with His own hands – thoughtfully and lovingly. That is powerful. And because of that we can live and behave as one who is sanctified by God and carry His calling that is upon us. How we live, what we do and say should reflect who He is.
Boy, do I fail daily in that regard. I sometimes find myself reacting rather than responding to situations. And if I am honest with myself – it is in those moments of reacting that I neglect to reflect on who God has made me to be. Additionally, I can see that those moments are likely a result of a weakness, insecurity, or fear. I have in the past allowed the uncertainties of this world to cloud my understanding of who God actually is in my life, and as a result dictate my behaviors and my responses.
Provers 25 must be considered not as two parts – but one.To get to the point where we as women can laugh at the days to come is only possible once we cloth ourselves with strength and dignity. It truly is the only way to laugh at the unknown.
Ladies – you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders – give that very heavy burden to the one who has said in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. "
I heard a sermon the other day about Lot’s wife. Jesus spoke just these three words – “remember Lot’s wife”. What did she do and why did Jesus want us to remember her? Lot’s wife looked back – back to the past, back to where her old life was, back to the familiar. Jesus was cautioning us – all of us – to remain ready. Ready for His return and ready to follow His will and plan for us. He wants us to move out of our comfort zones and into his zone. That is where we are unafraid of the days ahead.He most certainly has a plan for us and will someday (soon) bring us to Him.
Stay ready ladies! Allow him to illuminate your path and as you walk that path do it in the strength and dignity that He has provided to you. And most importantly walk with laughter into those days ahead in 2024.
Love to you and peace,
Rose
