How Can Women Clothe Themselves in Strength and Dignity Daily?
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"She is clothed in strength and dignity." Through the ebb and flow of daily life, I find myself clothed in frustration, worry, and lack. When I begin to feel this way, the weight of who God called me to cradle me like a warm shawl—grounding me in the vision God created for all women—to be clothed in strength and dignity.
Proverbs 31:25 has been a battle cry for women for thousands of years because women are often portrayed as the weaker sex, or as being meek, mild, and silent. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As women, we were the crown of creation. When God created woman, He did so not as a second to man. Not as a secondary citizen. Not beneath man but to complement man. Like the wings of an airplane, the oars for a boat, or a bicycle, both are needed. And as women, we were created as warrior helpers to men.
From the very beginning in Genesis 2:18, God called us to be strong. He said, “And the Lord said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
The word helper in this Scripture in Hebrew is: Ezer Kenegdo. Ezer originally had two meanings: to rescue/to save and to be strong. In the Old Testament, the word Ezer is used 21 times, twice to describe Eve, and three times to describe God’s beloved Israel, and 16 times to describe Himself. God is the aid, the strong help in desperate situations, and we women were created to follow suit.
What these Bible verses have in common is that Ezer is used consistently in a military context. The Ezer is a warrior. Did you catch that, God named Eve as a warrior. You too are a warrior. The world needs us, our children need us, and so do our husbands (if you’re married).
Since the beginning, God clothed women in strength and dignity. Do you ever wonder why movies like Wonder Woman and Super Girl are gaining popularity? Because there is a deep call in the hearts of women to be strong belted with dignity. Personally, I think they are modern-day versions of Deborah. But, it’s up to us to pick these two items out from our wardrobe on a daily basis to wrap our souls in instead of letting these two beloved garments collect wrinkles and dust on the floor.
What Does 'She Is Clothed in Strength and Dignity Mean'?
What does Proverbs 25:31 mean? We all should dress ourselves like Diana from Wonder Woman. No, I’m not talking about her outfit when she is busy saving the world. I’m talking about her inner character that speaks volumes more than her clothing. Here, the ideal woman loves God with all her heart and understands what Ezer means. She is a woman that radiates Matthew 22:37 because she loves the Lord with all her heart, soul, and strength. She dresses daily for battle with the armor from Ephesians 6:10-18. She is filled with the Holy Spirit and lives in the freedom of Christ. She has laid down her life and taken up her own cross. Let’s break down the passage of Proverbs 31:25:
“She is clothed …with strength and dignity”
Here we see that even 2000 years ago, women were concerned with their appearance. But 1 Peter 3:3 says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.” Rather, the godly woman will be clothed with her Christlike character. How can gold jewelry help a woman’s intuition nurture or protect her family? How can fine clothes set boundaries as the gates of her home?
What makes a woman strong? It’s not bigger muscles, a 12-pack of abs, or giving birth without drugs. It’s not a woman who pulls herself up by her bootstraps and runs a boardroom either. These things are all great benefits to the qualities of being a determined woman, but a woman of strength is rooted in God. A woman grounded in Christ knows her Bible. A woman who clothed in strength is not about perfectly checked church attendance, how much you volunteer, having the best snacks for life groups or having all the answers in Bible study. A woman who clothes herself in God’s strength has faith: Real, bold, Jesus-glorifying, heart-wrenching, deep-in-the-trenches and fight for God’s truths in the midst of the lies, kind of strength.
However, becoming her means embodying a warrior willing to bleed for her cause. Becoming a woman of strength is digging-your-heels in the dirt for God’s truths. This strength results in the hope of God.
What Are the Characteristics of a Proverbs 31 Woman Who Is Clothed in Strength and Dignity?
The Proverbs 31 woman used to intimidate me until I began focusing more on spending time with God than trying to do things for God. The essence of this woman is that she draws her strength, hope, and refuge in God. She doesn’t look to the world for affirmation, nor does she compete with others. She has one focus—honoring the Lord her God. All the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman flow from this focus.
The Proverbs 31 woman tells us to be:
Virtuous – Verse 10
Faithful – Verse 11
Good –Verse 12
Hard Working – Verse 13
Provide –Verse 14
Business Savvy – Verse 16
Strong – Verse 17
Full of endurance – Verse 18
Well Rounded – Verse 19
Charitable – Verse 20
Trustworthy – Verse 21
Well Dressed – Verse 22
Honorable – Verse 25
Wise – Verse 26
Active – Verse 27
Praiseworthy – Verse 28
Excelling in Everything – Verse 29
God Fearing—Verse 30
Strong and Dignified – Verse 31
What Does Dignity Look like in an Undignified World?
Dignity is such a hard word to describe sometimes. Dictionary.com defines it as, “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect or a sense of self-respect.” But what God is talking about in this verse isn’t demanding respect. It’s our inherent value and worth as human beings.
In today’s modern world, we are still seen as sexual objects and we base our value on outward appearances. It’s not just men who continue to perpetuate this stereotype. It’s women too. It’s also the media and advertising. Why? Because a beautiful woman can sell just about anything. It causes women to think:
I need to look like her.
I need to dress like her.
I need to act like her.
I need to lose weight to be her.
This is because the world is stripping us of our dignity of being warriors and co-creators with God. The enemy knows the fastest way to tear apart this world is to go after every modern-day Eve. He knows how to make her feel insecure and so does the advertising industry. And we seem to default to the enemy and the messages of this fallen world.
A dignified woman realizes:
No one can fulfill the calling God has on my life except me.
I need to dress like me—I have God’s attention.
I need to act like me in this situation—I need to take my cues from the Holy Spirit.
I need to love how God created me—I need to treat my body like a temple.
How Can We Clothe Ourselves in Strength and Dignity?
Today’s modern woman can be dressed in strength and dignity. These two pieces of garments clothe us from the inside out. When we choose our clothes each day, we lay them out with a purpose in mind. Are we taking care of kids or going for a run? Are we attending church? Are we giving a speech a MOPS? Are we going on a date? Our clothing is our personal style; our way of showing the world a bit of our personality and character that we may not express in words. But let’s not forget to complete our outfits with strength and dignity. Dignity has the potential to change the world, but only if people like you help to spread its profound message. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how. So, pick up that beautiful garment of strength and dignity. Wear it every day and look to the Lord!
Further Reading
What Does 'She Is Clothed with Strength and Dignity' Mean in Proverbs 31?
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Becca Tapert
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today.