A Woman of Strength and Dignity

Have you ever had days when you don’t think or feel like you’re very strong? Oh, I know as Christian women we all want to believe we have endless strength that sustains us to do any and all the things. But the truth is, sometimes we get tired, and we even feel weak - like our strength is completely insufficient. Chances are, if we're feeling not so strong, then we are not able to fully embrace having a sense of dignity the way we desire.

So what does it mean to be a strong woman anyway? Strength can be defined as: having the capacity for exertion or endurance; mental power, force, or vigor; moral power, firmness, or courage. Woo! That’s a lot! If we are honest, it can definitely be intimidating to live up to in and of ourselves.

But when we take a closer look into the Word of God, it reveals to us the truth about strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Sis, what really makes us strong is not our human capacity to produce and perform, but our ability to rest and receive God’s grace. There is strength in surrender. When we surrender to God’s grace for us, He in exchange gives us His strength.

And what about dignity? Dignity means: the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect; a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect. As daughters of the Most High God, our dignity is recognized in the honor our Father bestows upon us. We can walk with our head held high because we understand our God-given value.

A woman of dignity knows her worth. She’s not conceded about it, she just owns who she has been created by God to be. We are created in the image of God. Our worth and value is determined because of who He is and whose we are. We don’t need any other source to validate our ability to walk in dignity.

Proverbs 31:25 highlights the virtues of strength and dignity. The scripture tells us, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” When we choose to fully rely on God’s grace, we will unashamedly and unapologetically be daughters who embody the virtues of strength and dignity. And then, we too will also laugh with rejoicing at the days to come.

Strength and dignity are not to be confused with perfection, self-sufficiency, pride, or arrogance. The Proverbs 31 woman possesses strength and dignity because she is rooted in her identity in Christ, and that produces godly confidence to live life virtuously, full of strength and dignity.