She Laughs at the Future

She Laughs at the Future

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” – Proverbs 31:25

What keeps you from laughing at the days to come? What drags you down? Do you think you have strength and dignity? Where do those traits come from?

The 2018 Women’s Retreat drew 57 women to talk about these and other questions. Although the weather brought rain, freezing rain, and heavy, wet snow, the time of fellowship, time with the Lord, testimonies, and the speakers warmed the hearts of the women in attendance. One woman said afterward, “I loved getting to spend some special time with special friends – laying in our beds talking over Friday night’s questions and praying together before bed. Also, I loved the time to study God’s word alone.”

Speaker Joyce Bannantine brought many to tears as she talked about the process of her mother dying and watching God work as her mother took her final breath. Wendy Bovenmyer shared how “gospel ponderings” have changed her perspective on things she has faced in her life.

As I was thinking about the retreat, and the things discussed there, I thought a lot about the gospel ponderings. How does the gospel affect everything going on in my life? And, am I experiencing the joy and freedom that comes from truly believing the gospel?

What gave the Proverbs 31 Woman strength, dignity, and the ability to laugh at the days to come? Proverbs 31 can often be a hard chapter for women, because they feel that the woman in the chapter is a whirling dervish of activity, and they can never measure up to her perfection. But, what is the point of the chapter? What is it really trying to say? One of the key verses, in my opinion, is verse 30, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” She has strength, dignity, and laughs at the days to come, because she fears the Lord. The Lord who is sovereign over her circumstances. The Lord who has made her the way He wants her to be, and He loves her. All of the things she does in Proverbs 31 flow out of her faith in the Lord.

How can we grow to become more like the Proverbs 31 Woman? That is where the “gospel ponderings” come in. As we believe the gospel and think about how the gospel applies in our unique circumstances, we become transformed. We start to believe that God is who He says He is, that He cares for us, that He is sovereign over our lives, and that He works everything out for good. Is there a situation in your life today that needs “gospel pondering?” If so, bring the gospel into your situation, and watch God work in your life!

Ladies – is there anyone else out there who has something they would like to share from the retreat? Let me know (terri@stonebrook.org)! We are always looking for guest writers for this blog. Perhaps God will use you to encourage other women…