A few weeks ago the graduating seniors walked through the halls of our elementary school, high-fiving kindergartners and hugging former teachers. Their faces shone with pride and joy and they walked like they held the future in their hands.
Some days I miss that part about being eighteen. At eighteen the future is filled with excitement and possibility, but it’s easy to lose that through the bumps and bruises and disappointments along the way. The headlines and the violence and the national bickering and the loss of hope–it’s enough to make the future feel more like foe than friend. Laugh at the days to come? I’d rather pull the covers over my head and hope the future goes away.
But there’s that one verse in the middle of Proverbs 31. “She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come” (Proverbs 31:25).
Thewoman of Proverbs 31 is a portrait of a life lived in wisdom. Proverbs opens with wisdom crying out in the street (Proverbs 1:20). The book gives practical advice on how to live wisely and closes with a poetic portrait of wisdom. Proverbs 31 isn’t a to-do list for godly womanhood as much as an example of wisdom in action. It’s as if the book says, okay, everything you’ve learned so far? This is what it looks like.
And one thing wisdom looks like is laughing at the days to come. Facing the future without fear is only possible when you know the God who holds the future. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord is the deep awe and reverence that comes in the presence of the Lord. It is the recognition that God is God and we are not and that God’s holiness and power are too deep to take for granted. Fearing the Lord is an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty over time and space and confidence in his final victory. When you know the one who holds the future, you don’t have to be afraid.
Because this Proverbs 31 woman is also a warrior, I picture her standing, feet planted, head held high, looking at the future with a grin. Hey future? My God’s got this. So whatever you have to throw at me? Bring. It. On.
And she laughs. Because when you fear the Lord, you don’t have to fear the future.
Q: What helps you face the future without fear?
13 comments
Love this: when you fear the Lord, you don’t have to fear the future!
I deal a lot with this – I think because I am middle aged and older now – I have more fears – fear of the future, etc. etc. – the Word definitely helps! And so much wisdom and comfort in the Psalms & Proverbs! Thanks so much!
With everything going on in our world, it’s easy to let fear take hold. That’s why it’s so important for us to be in the Word and ground ourselves in our knowledge of who our God is.
Amen! The enemy loves it when we “fear” him more than God. It is the enemy’s job to make us miserable and lose our focus because he sure doesn’t want our Heavenly Father to receive the glory He deserves by trusting God completely with all and for all. There was a T-Shirt that said..the next time the enemy reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. I’m glad we know how the story ends. :-).
Yes–the enemy wants us to be afraid. But God gives us a spirit of confidence and courage so we can stand. When we know who our God is, we don’t have to be afraid.
God only wants us to fear Him – and not people!
Leigh, I’m learning great (hard) lessons about God’s sovereignty. But you know what? His sovereignty brings me great comfort. Understanding that He is the the authority in my life and nothing comes my way without His knowledge gives me courage to press on. That … and laughter. A girl’s just gotta laugh 🙂
Amen. Knowing God is in charge helps me keep going. And yes–sometimes you have to laugh.
I love this quote of yours: “Hey future? My God’s got this. So whatever you have to throw at me? Bring. It. On.” This is the way we should look!
Heather Bock
Thanks!
I like how you explained the fear of the Lord. Knowing that God knows what’s coming up, helps me to not be afraid. And that He has perfect power and perfect love. I’m safe with Him. The NKJV says “she rejoices in time to come” (Prov 31:25). I wonder what that original word is. Interesting. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks for your encouragement to trust God.
It’s from the Hebrew “sachaq,” which my lexicon defines as “to laugh.” Some translations also use “to smile at the future.” (Strongs # 7832 if you want to look it up that way.)
John Piper believes all sin stems from unbelief. I’ve often thought about that verse in Proverbs when I’ve been fearful–which has been a lot lately.
Love how you wrote this! Thanks, Leigh.
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