Becoming a Woman of Valour

I began this blog more than four years ago, and this is my first post.  That was never my plan.

I used to think I knew exactly what the blog would look like – it’s content, it’s pictures, even it’s color. I dreamed of all that I would write.  I had a plan for it and a plan for life.  

I was going to teach others how to live life as the Proverbs 31 woman – to become a woman of virtue – of valour.  I would do word studies, such as chayil, the Hebrew word translated virtue in Proverbs 31 and valour in places like Judges 6. I’d have told you it was a military term and teach you how to fight for your husbands, children and homes.  I would have imparted an exhausting list of do’s and don’ts, shoulds and shouldn’ts upon women, like me, who wanted to hear their families rise up and call them blessed.  That would be a wonderful blessing but it must never be our motivation.  

Now, four years later, the platform I thought I would stand on has disintegrated.  The formulas I lived by have shattered.  My world has been turned completely upside down through sinful choices of my own and others.  I now own a story that I used to jump through hoops to deny – especially to myself.  And the God that I had unknowingly tried to reduce to an equal sign at the end of my pretty equations has proven Himself bigger, better, more real, more powerful and fuller of grace and truth than I could have ever comprehended had life followed my plan.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps…

The LORD works out everything for His own ends…

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails...

(Proverbs 16:9,4, 19:21)

So, Becoming a Woman of Valour is not about praying more, studying more, submitting better, fasting, blessing or any of the other good things that I would have written about in years past.  It’s bigger than that. Becoming a woman of valour is about answering God’s call right where you are.  In the midst of the pain-filled, fear-stirring, life-altering, disappointing circumstances you might be facing right now.  It’s receiving the strength and courage from The Almighty to believe that God is not done with you and that He is still good and has good plans.  Becoming a woman of valour is not easy, often gut-wrenching and always a call to be real.  I’m a work in progress, throwing myself at the mercy of the Master Potter, but I’m learning to find joy on the journey to becoming…

If life hasn’t turned out anything like the fairy tale you dreamed of, this blog is for you.  If you find yourself face down in the muck and mire and don’t know how to get back up, I’ve been there.  God has an answer.  If you hear the LORD call your name and you think “who me?” as you’re hiding in the winepress with Gideon - full of craven fear, join me.  Let’s rise up to be the mighty warriors we were created to be. 

“Thank You for the bitter things – 
they’ve been a friend to grace, 
they’ve driven me from paths of ease
to storm the secret place.” 
Florence White Willett