What if Proverbs 31 is not a list of who we as women are supposed to be, rather a challenge for the kind of women that men are supposed to pursue.
All Hands on Deck
It means restraining ourselves when nothing around us implies we should do so. It means saying no when everybody else around us is saying yes. It means stopping when everything around us keeps moving. It means being the body of Christ not just enjoying it.
Get Away
We don’t “find it” or even “make it” happen. It is given to us. All those other things have the ability to slow down our pace, but they, in and of themselves, do not give us the true rest we crave. They cannot, because they are not the source of rest itself.
It’s Time to Speak Up
Whether it’s my pride holding back love towards those I’m closest to, or fear preventing me from speaking up when God has something very specific to say, I can be silent. I can speak my own words without hesitation, but not always God’s.
Judge Not.
It is a biblical truth that we will be judged in the same way that we judge others and it leads to a vicious cycle…until we stop judging.
So how can we stop all this assessing and critical thought?
The Struggle is Real
Where in your life are you straining to make progress and it feels like you are getting nowhere? Maybe it’s time to do something different.
Hope on the Other Side
As much as we hate it, we are very comfortable in our brokenness and pain. There is something secure and known about it. In some ways, it is our faithful companion…in a codependent, unhealthy, abusive way. The uncertainty of letting go can be more frightening than trying to manage what we already know.
Lift You Up
So many times, in my own life, I have attempted to manage my feelings on my own. I would rationalize peace by thinking through scenarios until I could control my fears. It gave a temporary rest for sure, but only until I became overwhelmed again.
What do you See?
That is a question each one of us has to answer for ourselves. And the answer we give determines everything about how we live and who we put in charge of our lives.
Social Connecting
God has blessed us with a pause; a temporary stop in action or speech. He has gifted us with time to slow down, be still and really connect with each other.