How To "Laugh at the Days to Come"

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)

The words of Proverbs 31:25 proclaim, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” What a unique declaration I would like to claim over my life! Believers in Christ share this desire as we aspire to be conformed into Proverbs 31 women—women of godly character who represent Jesus in every facet of life. If we want to be able to “laugh at the days to come,” the question we need to answer is, “How can we clothe ourselves with strength and dignity?” Here are a few suggestions:

• Cultivate Empathy and Compassion: Learn to put yourself in others’ shoes. Be quick to listen and slow to judge. Love God and love people. This is the greatest commandment according to God’s Word (Matt. 22:36-40). Jesus was the poster child of compassion. He demonstrated this by meeting the needs of others. Use your gifts and abilities to bless those around you.

• Listen to the Promptings of the Holy Spirit: As believers, God has given us the Holy Spirit to govern and guide our lives. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit nudges our hearts and lets us know it’s time to take action. When we listen and obey, we become good stewards of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and God is pleased. We develop strength of character by walking in faith through listening and obeying the Holy Spirit’s whispers in our lives.

• Establish Disciplines of a Godly Woman: Read God’s Word. Pray. Praise the Lord and acknowledge your blessings each day. Seek forgiveness when necessary and live in the light of redemption.

• Be Humble: Our hearts align with Christ’s when we walk in meekness. Meekness is confidence in Christ and humbly submitting to God’s Word. It is striding in sync with the heartbeat of Jesus—honoring God through a lifestyle of praise—making God’s name known and not our own.

• Self-Reflection: Journaling is a great practice that develops self-reflection and self-awareness. One component I like to incorporate in journaling is counting my blessings. This can be done by thanking God for a few things daily or making a running list of blessings, reviewing it, and prayerfully adding to it.

• Build Strong Relationships: At various seasons in life, making and maintaining meaningful friendships can be challenging. But the rewards outweigh the challenges when our lives become sharpened and unified by other believers. We aren’t meant to do life alone.

• Pour Into Someone Else: Whether it is your children, a teen, or someone not as far along as you in life, fill your cup by pouring godly wisdom into someone else. It is amazing the way the Lord multiplies our joy when we focus on the heart needs of others.

• Become a Lifelong Cheerleader: I was a cheerleader in college. I still think of myself as a cheerleader nowadays, but in a different way. I spur others on through writing, leading, and serving. Uplift other women. Cheer them on in their endeavors. Inspire them to pursue Jesus for themselves. You will be blessed tenfold.

These steps lead to a lifestyle of abundant joy and leave a legacy of God’s love. By being others-focused, prioritizing time spent in God’s Word, persistent prayer, and loving Jesus above all else, we can laugh at the days to come.

Step of Faith: Can you think of an action item to add to the list of ways to clothe ourselves with strength and dignity? Jot it down and live it out!

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