Proverbs 31:25 Part 1

“She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.”

This verse is found in a chapter full of scripture describing a good wife – a woman who exudes strength and possesses a determined work ethic. A woman who extends a helping hand, fears the Lord, and speaks with wisdom. Proverbs 31:25 has an ever-present truth, which leads us to ponder, “With what are we clothed?”

Many aspects of our day with which we clothe ourselves (tasks, responsibilities, and worries to name a few) can “weigh us down,” but when the Lord is the one who clothes us, we end up not burdened, but somehow lighter. Looking back to the verse, the clothing that the virtuous woman wears is not something that she removes and replaces daily or for specific occasions, but rather a clothing that protects – a clothing which becomes a unified part of her. This clothing – stemming from her relationship with the Lord – provides freedom to step into the future without fear (with trust and confidence in who(se) she is).

The Lord hands over His clothing to us-these virtues-and He asks that we do the same – we are to share this clothing with others – “She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.” (Proverbs 31:20) We are clothed with Truth Himself and are expected to share His clothing of self with those around us.

Lastly, the comforting dynamic of “not fearing the future” is in no way a passive act. It is an active "yes" to being entirely consumed by and lead by Him in the present moment – fully clothed by Him in each “Now.” It actually often entails putting a great amount of work and thought into our daily moments – including the difficult ones – with confidence that our Father provides us the gifts and abilities to do so. This is why she can laugh; yes because the future is in His hands, but also because she has chosen to be in His hands and clothed by Him in all those little past moments.

YOU are this virtuous woman. You are clothed by HIM.