Praised
Proverbs 31:30 The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-GOD.
:31 Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!
She found herself in this role that wasn’t necessarily what she had been looking for in life and in many ways kept her from fulfilling many of the passions that were so strong in her heart. Circumstances and relationships had propelled her into the commitment of her life to those who would demand so much from her in ways that she initially felt so ill-prepared. She would have to learn management, organizational, financial, and relational skills for the care of her new domain, and, challenged in many of these areas by criticisms and disagreements she would often be driven to the point of despair and hopelessness by the magnitude of her predicament. It wasn’t that she despised or abhorred her situation, though, it was just that, with very little recognition or appreciation, she was expected to produce such a great deal and it was often more than overwhelming. Would there never be an end to this requirement? Could she not, at some point, be released to pursue those goals and dreams that had been hers since childhood? Could that vision and dream of life that was still alive inside never be realized and lived?
Somehow, from the middle of the intensity and race to fulfill her obligations, there was a voice of hope that began to speak peace to her heart. The voice of her God that had really been the source of all her postponed dreams began to rise above the surrounding tumult with a comfort and consolation. Every expended effort and every tear of frustration was not only seen by Him but cared for and kept in His heart’s record of recognition and reward. He would not let her faithfulness be lost and He would bring significance and meaning to all that had been desperately void of such. Her days began to be filled with not only the endless duties that expended her energies, but they began to be consumed with an awareness that her greatest passion and her greatest fulfillment was realized in the promise of Her God in every task that was before her. Beyond the veil of apparent insignificance, was a surety that He would be the Fulfiller of her dreams and the Completer of her passions. With every moment in this growing awareness was strengthening of heart and equipping of ability to not only live through this time in her life, but have a victory in every challenge and reward in every fulfilled demand. Though the challenges would not recede and the problems not decrease, there was a surety that taking her through them would be the One who was more than able to bring the reward and provision required. She became a woman with an incredible fear, honor, and faith in the God who would not disappoint or let her down. He would produce in her the fruit of righteousness and she would inspire great praise and admiration for the work of her hands that became an expression of the heart He had won. Though long the night, there was an assurance that the presence of her God would carry her through it to the joy of the morning. Everything she deserved would be hers- her dreams, her hopes, her passions.
