Proverbs 31:29-30 (ESV) 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Like all of us, mothers need to be praised. A mother who knows she is valued can handle almost anything. She has the skill and energy to handle life within the home and outside of it, regardless of the challenges and difficulties life can bring.
This is why a mother needs to be prized and praised regularly. A God-fearing woman is to be praised by her children, her husband, and “in the city gate” by community leaders. But if a woman is never praised, she will eventually feel unloved, unskilled, and possibly even useless, in the eyes of those that she pours her energy into each day.
The woman described in this passage, is a God-fearing, dedicated, and independent woman. She bravely dives into leadership roles and takes on challenging positions with courage and confidence. She does all this with a spirit and attitude of excellence, inspiring others and drawing their praise.
When we finally understand the attributes of this bold and driven woman, she will win your heart and inspire your future. Although, it’s impossible for any woman to live up to the full description of the Proverbs 31 woman, I believe this passage is meant to inspire you to be the unique, persistent, and fearless woman God created you to be.
Take a look at the attributes described in Proverb 31 and take note of the traits you sense God is calling you to appropriate into your life as a woman and as a mother.
The woman of Proverbs 31 embraces her true worth and value (v10,28) and is also:
- Honest and trustworthy (v11)
- An entrepreneur (vv13,14,16,24)
- Wise and discerning (vv13,18,26,27)
- Hardworking and resourceful (vv13,19,24,27)
- A loving provider (vv14,15,21,24)
- Generous and kind (vv15,20,26)
- A supervisor (vv15,27)
- Independent and successful (vv16,24)
- Courageous and strong (vv17,21,25)
- Well-spoken of (v23)
- Confident and optimistic (v25)
- Praised by others (v28,31)
As we can see from this extensive list, being a Proverbs 31 woman or mom can appear to be quite daunting. However, we must remember that perfection is not humanly unattainable for anyone. What we must see instead, is that it’s about giving it all you’ve got, and striving to keep a positive perspective. Persevere when the task at hand is difficult. Take care of yourself and care for the needs of others with clear expectations and boundaries. Courageously embrace your God-given abilities so you can reach your God-given potential in all you do.
The highest praise any woman can receive, is praise from God. What counts most is what God thinks. So, women and mothers, rejoice in the praise that comes first and foremost from God. Husbands, men and children, praise God for your Mom, and praise Mother’s and women in a way that echoes God’s own praise of her everyday.