Lately I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed and slightly
stressed about life. I’ve been thinking about all the things I need to do (or should
stop doing), my personal ‘to do’ list has become a ‘to dread’ list and I’ve just
been feeling different. Things that shouldn’t bother me, do and things that use
to bring me joy, don’t. I began to reflect on a blog I wrote called Surely shortly
before my first daughter was born. The Lord had strengthened me and enlarged my
faith so much through that post, but today, I didn’t feel as strong as I did in
that season.
Knowing that God is the same, I can admit the only
difference between then and now must be hidden within me. Acknowledging that and
realizing that these feelings and my perspective would take my life in a
direction I did not intend to go, I’ve decided to make a very conscious decision
to start my days earlier and fix my focus before
life fixes it for me.
For me this process has been waking up before my daughters
and having my first cup of coffee with Jesus. In the peaceful, quiet, stillness
of my home I’ve been intentional about fixing my heart and mind heavenward
before life gave me an opportunity to do otherwise.
This particular morning I decided to go back to the good and
faithful Proverbs
31 woman. I love this piece of scripture because it embodies a woman that I
do not yet know personally, yet my heart feels close to her. She inspires so
many women and yet in her day to day duties, she probably had no idea anyone
was watching her, let alone that people would be talking about her all this
time later.
As I read, I began to write;
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She is valuable
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She lacks nothing
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She is consistent
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She is wise
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She is an investor
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She helps others
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She is considerate and compassionate
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She is a hard worker
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She is resourceful
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She is business savvy
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She is diligent
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She is prepared
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She faces life like a boss
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She gets her hands dirty
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She is brave
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She is wise
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She is well articulated
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She is fearless
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She is resourceful
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She likes beautiful things
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She brings honor to her husband
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She represents the Lord well
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She takes care of others
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She also takes care of herself
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She is confident
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She fills her life with things that have purpose
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She is authentic
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She is loved
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She is honored
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She is rewarded
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Because she fears the Lord, she fears nothing
else.
When I came to the end of the passage I felt the Lord
whisper to my heart ‘Look at all that she is. There is no mention of what she
is not’.
For me this subtle whisper gave me hope, gave me peace and
gave me permission to exhale. I am constantly fixated on growth and progress
which means often times I can fixate on what I’m not, what I need to fix and
where I’m lacking. Yet here I read scripture after scripture not about what she
doesn’t do, but rather all about what
she does do.
This passage focuses on the strengths, not shortcomings.
I’m reminded this morning to focus on what I can do, what I
should do, who I am, who I will one day be, and not on everything I’m not.
This women wasn’t perfect, she couldn’t have been, none of
us are but she focused on the right things at the right time and because of
that, she was successful. She knew whom she served and because of that, she
knew who she was. Did she face confusion? Insecurities? Doubt? I’m sure but
unlike many of us, it’s likely that she
faced it and moved on. Those things may have been a speed bump on her
journey, but they surely would not become a road block. She got over it, she
moved on, and she focuses on important things, fruitful things an d because of
that, she is a hero to women who never even knew her.
Today I’m encouraged to face ‘it’ but to move on. I hope you
are too.
