Misconceptions of a Godly Woman

54 (1 of 1)

I realize that this post may offend certain people: Good people, people who I’d probably really get along with otherwise…

But for the record, I am not sorry.

Last week’s post Worthy of Rubies was me, buttoned up in my ‘Sunday’s best’ and smiling pretty. But over the last couple of days a fire has come over me and I can’t keep silent.

You see, I hate when women stand before other women and use their platform to hide behind facades of ideal marriages, perfect specimens of children and strong opinions on the likes of breastfeeding, vaccines, and church politics…

I cringe when the Kim Kardashian’s of the world pose half-naked in an attempt to prove that they’re still sexy, when any ‘real mom’ feels like anything but! When friends on Facebook post statuses like “ …Made 6 loaves of banana bread, ran 12.8 miles, fed the homeless, and saved a cat, and was still able to get home in time to make homemade apricot pork loin and apple crisp for dinner tonight,” while the rest of us are left wondering how we even made it out of our pajamas today?!?

I don’t know when being sexy and domestically superior made us more of a woman, but let me challenge you with what I believe is the #1 misconception of a godly woman…

Years ago, I took a class in bible college that still to this day gets my blood boiling. It was a class called Christian Womanhood.

Three times a week hundreds of college freshman ladies piled into the auditorium, and who if they were anything like me, anticipated by the name of the class ‘Christian Womanhood’ that we would come to understand what it truly meant to become the godly woman the Lord desires for us to be.

Most of the girls attending the class would one day go on to become pastor wives, missionaries, and christian school teachers. Women who would have the potential to impact other women, communities and the World in POWERFUL ways!

And yet, THIS is what we learned…

– How to execute a wedding. Complete with rehearsing a mock wedding in which each of my peers played a ‘part.’ I however, sat in the audience (on the groom’s side if you want to be specific) uninterested, and unapologetic …I mean, seriously? 

– The importance of making dinner for our families each night, and pointed out the convenience of using a crock pot. …Yep, it happened.  

– Why we must only read the King James Version of the Bible. But I have no notes on that lesson, because unashamedly, I tuned that one out!

It was also in this class that we did an in-depth study of Proverbs 31 in the Bible. Which wasn’t bad per se, but due to all of the above (and the fact that I actually paid for this nonsense of a class!) I don’t think it would surprise anyone to know that still to this day, I have a physical aversion to any of the topics covered in that class, including the beloved Proverbs 31 woman!

Interestingly enough though, my husband came to me last week and asked me to write a devotion for our church on you guessed it – Proverbs 31!  And in all honesty I fought it HARD, as if to completely downplay the significance of it in the Bible.

And yet as I pored over the chapter myself, I realized something I had never seen before, something I can assure you was NEVER taught in my class all those years ago:

Who can find a capable wife?… She is energetic and STRONG…  She has NO FEAR of winter…  She is clothed with STRENGTH…

Proverbs 31:10, 17, 21, 25

The Proverbs 31 woman is a lot of things- domestic and lovely, successful and well-respected, But most repeated, she is STRONG! Not anything like the passive and weak woman we are so often encouraged to be! She has no fear of winter – the difficult times to come – and is most definitely not limited to planning weddings and using crock pots!

65 (1 of 1)It got me thinking go the times I have had to be strong…

When 2 years into my marriage, when we should have been comparing paint swatches for the living room and eating breakfast in bed (or whatever it is that newlyweds do!) but instead we were battling it out in screaming matches and trying to decided what we would do with the house in the event of a divorce.

…When The Lord asked me to forgive my husband, and when even more clearly, I begged God kicking and screaming to let me move on, to give me permission to break ties with the man I was petrified would hurt me once again! But how the Lord never wavered.

How I was furious and shaken, but STRONG enough to choose to please the Lord above all else and embark on a journey to learn to love my husband again.  And for the record,  I am so incredibly glad I did!

How years later, we faced an unimaginable tragedy in our church while my husband was away at summer camp. How I wanted nothing more then for my husband to walk through the door, so I could immerse myself into the comfort of his arms, allowing myself to freely fall into a heap of tears with the one person who shared my mutual heartache. And how it never happened…

Because upon returning home, my husband made only one request: we not cry. How instead, he wanted to watch the news footage covering the accident over… and… over… and lay on floor and listen to worship music until late into the night. How he needed me there, and how more than anything he needed me to be STRONG!

How impossible it felt (how impossible it would’ve been apart from the Lord!) but how I sought hard to find my strength in Christ, relying on Him wholeheartedly for my comfort so that I could be strong for my husband, so that in return, he could be strong for so many others as their Pastor!

Oh, how my soul longed in those moments, for a woman to have opened up and spoken to me as a college freshman about THAT! To have a woman stand before me, vulnerable about her overwhelming fears and unworthiness, but of God’s immeasurable strength available to us in spite of it!

And so if I could teach a class on christian womanhood, and if all of you reading were my exceptionally lovely students, I would tell you that the most breathtaking picture of a ‘christian woman’ is not merely a sweet, modest, well-spoken, domestic goddess – but the woman whose strength and unshakeable faith lifts up all those around her despite the circumstance or ‘winter’ she has found herself in. (Prov. 31:21)

I’d tell you that no matter how beautiful of a bride you make, that one day your marriage may feel hopeless. And to remember when that day comes, it’s not a direct reflection of the INADEQUACY of you, but the potential GREATNESS of God if we allow Him to restore the broken pieces left of our hearts, and our vows.

That one day, the strong men we marry may need OUR strength to literally and physically pick them up off the floor, and that it won’t be a damn crock pot that will save the day, but the fire deep within us to FIGHT for our marriages and for our husbands to be the godly men that the Lord desires them to be!

Because the truth is, EVERYONE can let us down. But by choosing to find our strength in Christ, there is NOTHING God can’t grant us, and NOTHING He can not restore! 

We need only to turn to Him, for He is the only one capable of giving life to our broken hearts and the strength we need to keep holding on.

And it would be as simple as that.

Class is dismissed.

Krista Signature

762 thoughts on “Misconceptions of a Godly Woman”

  1. I LOVED this article, except for one thing. I would change the title to “Misconceptions of a Godly MARRIED Woman”. There are plenty of godly women out there who are not married, and our society, even within the church, seems to struggle to recognize that.

    Like

    1. I agree with you completely Kelsey! However whether you are married or not, I still firmly believe that according to Proverbs 31, God designed you to be a STRONG woman regardless! It still applies, it just may look a little differently at times. I only speak on behalf of a married woman because I am one! Hope that clears that up! Thanks for reaching out to me! 🙂

      Like

  2. I happened upon your blog via someone’s post on FB. I am currently reading Fully Alive, by Larry Crabb. Looks like it dovetails onto your post today! I would encourage you to add it to your library. Great post~ thank you!

    Like

  3. This is along the same lines as the post I wrote a few weeks ago, after seeing a rather cowardly man post again and again on facebook about the supreme submission and domesticity of his pregnant wife. No words about her strength or her intelligence-just that she’s giving him his first born son. Holy Henry the Eighth! It’s time for the women of the church to stand up, and appreciate the fact that God made us strong, to work as a team with our husbands, not weak to cower in fear.
    Thank you so much for your post. Love it.
    Here’s the one I wrote if you’re curious.
    http://movingnonsequitur.com/2013/10/05/what-its-like-to-be-a-christian-and-a-feminist/

    Like

  4. Sorry for the essay, but I just felt like I needed to share this.

    I have been married three years, and before I was married I really hated Proverbs 31….because whenever someone TESTIFIED on this scripture it always turned into fitting into the gender role of the domestic 50’s housewife. It wasn’t the life I wanted. I planned to go to medical school, and then get married and have kids after I was done with residency

    Turns out the plans I had well…they are still going to happen, but the STEPS to get there are actually in reverse order, and no joke, rediscovering PROVERBS 31 my first year of marriage definitely played a role in keeping us together

    I met my husband in college, we got married a month after I graduated after a long distance engagement. A week after our honeymoon I moved to join him in the big city of Los Angeles where he was (and still is) working on a PhD in physics….and a month after that I started medical school 60 miles outside the city. I was commuting the 120 miles round trip at the time, and this was my first experience with going to a christian school….

    it was a BAD mix…every married woman in my class or the auxiliary offering us encouragement was that perfect picture of “proverbs 31” domestic goodness…they had dinner on the table every night, were running marathons or doing pilates, kept their homes clean, all whilst being in medical school….

    I thought I had to do all that too, on top of my commute and my studies…and so I did. Needless to say my grades were just above passing (when I knew I could do better), and my marriage was on the rocks. If his dirty socks hit the floor, it meant he’d be sleeping on the couch after an all out shouting match….over socks…the thing is it was over more than socks.

    It was over the pressure I had put on myself to meet some rather unrealistic expectations, it was over the extremely hard transition of being married and then throwing in the mix the fact that we now lived 3000 miles from friends and family, it was over the fact that all my other friends lived in houses and were having kids while I had to share our two bedroom 800 square foot apartment with a roommate because we couldn’t afford it.

    I ended up taking a leave of absence from school. My marriage was more important to me, and medical school was always there for me to go back to. I went back the next year, and just finished my second year…I scored so high on my boards that I can literally apply to any field I want to go into and have a reasonable chance of getting in…

    That first year of marriage I spent many hours in Bible Study and rediscovered Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31 has nothing to do with having a clean house, a gourmet dinner on the table, and a fit body…and all that advice given to me on how to be a good wife? it is all earthly wisdom. Proverbs 31 has EVERYTHING to do with faith, with being a humble servant, having a grateful attitude, and embracing God’s grace for both yourself and your spouse. I can honestly say that despite all the challenges my marriage has faced in these 3 years, my marriage is stronger than ever.

    And for all those people who keep trying to force traditional gender roles into the expectations of a Proverbs 31 wife, I want to say that it is hard enough being a proverbs 31 wife..add in all these distractions and it is even harder to see the message clearly

    “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called,both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

    Like

    1. Yay! I LOVE this Alicia! GOOD FOR YOU!!!! Such an awesome story! Thanks for your willingness to share your story with me! May god bless you and your husband!

      Like

    2. Wow I’m so happy you shared your story. I ran across this page by liking a friend’s FB status and I’m glad I clicked the link. I’ve heard of the Proverbs 31 woman but I never actually read it. Reading your response to this blog post has definitely encouraged me and I will be reading Proverbs 31 TODAY! God bless you ladies! Keep the faith!

      Like

  5. And this is what’s wrong with the bible and it’s followers it’s gives all these misconceptions and ways people should be only to leave them feeling let down and inferior! I for one am glad I am not part of the Christianity!

    Like

    1. Shana,
      Christianity is real. A personal relationship with Christ is real. It’s only when you mix humans and their messed up ways in there, that things get ugly. Never forsake knowing Christ, just because we humans are still trying to figure it all out, because living with him will always be worth the battle. Living without Him is a failure 100% of the time.

      Like

  6. I loved this post and since it’s snowing and icing out here in the Panhandle South Plains of Texas we didn’t go to church today. So, thank you for your message. I am 53 years old and am trying desperately to live a Godly life. I have been in two failed marriages and some other situations where I didn’t feel so Godly. But His Grace is sufficient for even me. I have fallen in love again for what I hope is the last time in my life and am hoping that with God’s love we will endure. ❤ Kim

    Like

  7. Absolutely one of the best posts ever written. When are we going to get real and quit setting standards so high that women feel defeated at every turn?

    Thank you for your honesty. How refreshing.

    Like

  8. Amazing!!!! Thank you for this and your honesty. Our bible colleges, bible studies, churches and blogs need more women like you! As I sit in my room in Spain broken to pieces from the exhaustion and often oppression that comes along with missions or ministry for that matter, I am thanking God for your encouraging words that will get me through today.

    Like

  9. I found the article rather interesting . I have been married 1 1/2 years to a wonderful husband who is a minister. I grew up in a very traditional Christian upbringing and had the same traditional ideas of what a wife ought to be, until I met my husband. He shed light into my life through the word and I’m blessed to have someone who loves me,
    supports me, and encourages me. Needless to say I used to be against the whole “crockpot” cooking wife mentality… But have now embraced it and do not see anything wrong with it. I believe you can be Strong and “domestic” with crockpots or pans or whatever you enjoy doing in your household. I have a full time secular career and a beautiful 7 month old daughter and he has his position at the church and helps to raise our daughter while being Mr.Mom helping in the cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and late night feedings. Does that make me less of a Godly woman? Less of the Proverbs 31 woman? No. I believe one can be both Strong and embrace the crockpots, because for the Man and Child God gave me… I would embrace all the crockpots and brooms just for them.

    Like

    1. For the record, I actually do love my crockpot. And I love everything domestic just like you! We are more on the same page than you may think! 😉

      Like

  10. Thank you so much for inspiring me. I have been married to my husband since 2008. We have two small children. I recently lost my job as an RN, but as I read your story I received a moment of enlightenment. I realized that being a Godly woman was not what I had been told it was for so long. What I am getting to, I have always been a worrier and a controller. During this time, I learned to pray more and allow God to place me and my family where we need to be. There is a reason for everything God does. It just took me almost 30 years to figure out I don’t have to work, cook, clean, feed, bathe, and do everything else. That’s why God gave me a helpmate.

    Like

  11. I don’t have words for my gratitude. I’m so thankful for willingness to give it all with no apologies. I literally beat myself up emotionally on not being good enough. It’s like the dirty little secret we don’t talk about. But I’m not alone & that for me was exactly what I needed at this very moment. I thank you for being bold!!

    Like

  12. I felt the exact same way about my Women’s Ministry college classes! Those classes were basically about how to make pretty things. It annoyed me so much cuz I wanted to learn how to do ministry in the church as a woman. I pretty much had to teach myself once I got into ministry. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. BE STRONG!!!

    Like

  13. I and my wife are separated. It is largely due to my stubbornness and selfishness. I havea friend share this with her in hope that it speaks to her. I have tried to make things right but the more I tried, the worse it got. I have turned it over to God. I know he hates divorce and longs to restore us. She does not want to talk to or see me, but she did text the other day after I cried out in anguish to God and her to forgive me and please come home, and said she forgave me. She has no trust in me and is still upset. She is also 5 months pregnant with our first child. She left when she was a month pregnant. It has been absolute hell these past four months. I told her that it was up to her whether or not God would reap great glory out of this or satan would be victorious. Yes I did create the problem. I am asking for prayer for my wife that her heart be touched, that she will find strength, and she will allow God to restore us! For Gods glory and for our precious baby girl to someday here the testimony of how Through her mothers God given strength He restored momma and daddy to love each other like they never thought possible.

    Like

    1. I just prayed for you!! I pray that God will give you wisdom as you converse with her about how to fix things, but most of all I pray for forgiveness and for Christ’s love to intervene in your relationship. I am so glad to hear that you have humbled yourself and trust God to fix things. Don’t forget that He is completely sovereign, and if it’s His will, He’ll bring you two back together. Keep praying fervently and don’t give up!

      Like

    2. I am praying for you. You need to check out New Life Ministries (http://newlife.com/) which has great resources such as marriage weekends and books. They believe that God hears our prayers for restoration, but He requires that we do it through process. That means you can pray for your wife’s heart to change, but you need to change and grow too. It takes work. Check out “Every Man’s marriage” and “Healing is a Choice.” They also have telephone counselors that can help you come up with a plan of action and offer scholarships for the marriage weekends. Best wishes.

      Like

  14. Thank you for this. So often we’ve been taught to be quiet and “in-the-background.” I love the emphasis in Proverbs 31 on strength. Never noticed that before today.

    Like

  15. Thank you for sharing this… I may be a tad on the late end of trying to be more like Proverbs 31, but your words inspire and encourage me. So glad my dear cousin Saeree linked this on her FB – happy to have found your blg!

    Like

  16. Great truth about life and God’s amazing ability to direct our paths and restore our brokenness. May God continue to use you to bring glory to His Name as you help those you come in contact with.

    Like

  17. You just gave me so much hope here! I’m a 35-year old single who doesn’t like cooking and struggles to keep my place cleaned up. I’ve been really worried about this for a long time because I don’t fit the traditional domestic roles. Thank you for helping me to reflect on what it means to be a strong woman! God bless!

    Like

  18. I’m not sure who you thought would be offended by this. As a 56-year-old man, a Christ-follower (and Bible study leader) most of my life, married 31 years to a wonderful woman, I think you are spot-on! In fact, look at Luke 10:38-42 for Jesus’ opinion about the relative importance of cooking and cleaning versus studying God’s word.

    Like

  19. Thanks for this , especially being and sharing something very personal. I have found myself many times on my knees praying for answers a
    And for God to help me. Through difficult times , it’s good to know your not alone .

    Like

  20. I agree with most if not all of your post. however, I believe that the feminist point of view had so infiltrated Christian women, that they don’t see what your saying, but rather that it’s not important to be a good housekeeper & cook for your family. I had my time if rebelling against the idea, but with 3 hungry, growing, messy boys, I had to get over it & embrace that part of my position in our home. I believe that we have gotten far away from being home makers & often make our families suffer. I absolutely belive in being strong & bold, in our beliefs. maybe the class could have been deeper, but a lot of young wives aren’t taught how to prepare meals or clean house, in their own homes. anyway, I agree with most, but caution that young wives might take this wrong. I’ve been married for 10 years & hand learned how to be a home maker from my mom whose been married for 46 years. I have a great example, most don’t anymore.

    Like

    1. I agree with everything you said so thank you. Unfortunately people will take what I write different ways, but as for you and I we are most definitely on the same page! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

      Like

  21. I really think this is a concept that every Christian, male or female, should embrace. It’s basically about being real. And by doing so enhancing your relationship with Christ and your ability to share your faith with others. The Perfect Proverbs 31 women and their male counterparts are the reason I quit going to church. They would sit in bible study and talk about their perfect selves,how many devotions they read each day or speak in sobs about someone they know who had lost their way. And I would be sitting there thinking about what a disgusting human being I was because I had screwed up so many times just that day. And when I shared my struggles I was told I didn’t pray hard enough or trust God enough. I knew that the truth was that I screwed up daily because I was human. Plain and simple. Your story was a blessing for me. An affirmation of how I have felt for the last 10 years. The people who are offended are those that don’t want anyone looking in their closets and seeing their real lives. Unfortunately, the thought of going back to church still terrifies. But I continue to share my faith when the opportunity presents itself and I like to think I’ve changed a few lives for the better. Good luck in all you do, not as a woman, but as a human being. You seem to be doing pretty darn great! And thanks again!

    Like

    1. I really enjoyed reading this. I am one of those that like a few others have said that really strives to be the June cleaver of my time and I believe that it is not a bad thing. I also read someone that mentioned something about single women. Really this applies to everyone. I think you can be a house wife, working wife and or mother, or single and get something from this. I am so often consumed with what I am doing right or wrong in my position in life that I forget what is most important in my calling as a woman which is exactly what you touched on. If I learn to be strong through him I can tackle everything a whole lot better because he will be making me strong. That is for any woman in whatever position you are in life. Thanks for the reminder.

      Like

    2. Andrea, THANK YOU! Thank you for your bravery in writing me and sharing your story. There have been a lot of comments, but yours stood out to me! You were not the “disgusting human being” you thought you were, you are REAL. And I applaud you for that! And as a lifelong church goer I know with 100% certainty that I would rather hang out with YOU then the people telling you that you didn’t pray hard enough 🙂

      Don’t give up on God my friend, He is good, He is loving, and He is forgiving. It’s His followers that can get it ALL wrong! 🙂 blessings to you! And thanks again for reaching out!

      Like

  22. thank you!!! i appreciate your realness and feel validated and greatful that God has brought me through tough circumstances to prove the strength He has given me. 🙂

    Like

  23. wow, this spoke to me in so many ways…..as a pastor’s wife; as a woman, and I also experienced an “unimaginable tragedy” when I was 16 and my 15 year old sister died in a car accident while on a church youth trip. My parents received ‘the call’ telling them my sister had died and I was seriously injured two states away from home. It’s been 42 years and I recently visited with an adult from that church about the accident and its effect on the church at that time as well as thru the years. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Proverbs 31 (which I have always had a problem with and will read that chapter with new eyes tonight) and also sharing about the tragedy. Your husband’s message on truth and hope and the call to worship and love spoke to me.
    I think it hurts our testimonies (both men and women) that we put on the façade and try to make our Christian lives look perfect. Each person in the pew has a heavy heart and we need to demonstrate that life continues to happen to Christians, but we have a hope and a Helper that we didn’t have before our relationship with Christ.

    Like

  24. That was Awesome! I loved the honesty! I too, am In the process of standing by the marriage that the Lord blessed us with 34 years ago, that we allowed to enemy to wrestle away from us! I will go to my grave believing that God does not give up on us, so I will not give up on our marriage! I am trusting In the Lord, to renew what has already begun His work in my life, and I see glimpses of His handiwork in my husband, as well. Just preparing for His perfect timing!

    Like

  25. Krista, I appreciate your perspective. I am not married nor do I have children, and I fall into the trap of perceiving that the grass is greener in the lawns of my married girl friends (though they have warned me this is not the case). I do believe that you and my other married friends are being sanctified and refined in ways that I will not comprehend in my single estate. May you daily know and experience your Heavenly Father’s strength and grace as you serve His kingdom in your family and marriage and community. May your words encourage others in your ranks. Kind regards, Megan

    Like

  26. Amen!
    You rocked it!
    Several months ago God placed a burden on my heart for community for women – because we don’t have one. We have fellowship in church and we know Christ centered women but we don’t have a community of women who are REAL with eachother, passionate, on fire for Christ and able to share their weakness without judgement. I’m happy to tell you that God has blessed me with being able to create a community where women can be real. Please keep heeding the Holy Spirit on issues like this because we NEED this encouragement. You are awesome.
    When I was reading this I was like YES YES YES lol so thank you, and I’m going to share this with all the beautiful ladies God has brought into my life recently.

    God bless you and your family,

    Much love, in Christ,
    Carolyn

    Like

  27. I will admit that I have read this on the defense, because technically you could be describing a lot about me. But I can appreciate this post and where it’s going in my heart and mind. So I am going to let your words sit with me a bit and read it again tomorrow. At least, I think I should =)

    Like

  28. As a wife of 20 years and a mother of 19, I totally agree with this. My husband and I have been through everything a married couple can go through AMD we are stronger and closer than ever. You name it, we have been through it. The loss of a child, addiction, infidelity…broken promise after broken promise that things would change and it took me telling him I couldn’t do it anymore, I was leaving for him to get help. He finally went to our pastor and admitted everything and asked for forgiveness and he got right with God and with those he had wronged and he started an addiction program for his specific addiction and from then on he has been a different man. The husband he should have been from the beginning.

    Like

    1. It took me a while to get to the point where I wanted to work on things though…at first I wanted to be angry and fight and hang onto my anger. Like I was entitled to it… I got into my bible and prayed a lot. God slowly worked in me and in my husband and eventually I was able to see that God wanted me to forgive my husband and move on with my life WITH him. Once I was able to do that, my husband became the husband I needed him to be!!

      Like

  29. Thank you for posting that. It’s nice to know that this fierce fire welling up in me could be my Christ Jesus about to awaken me!! PTL

    Like

  30. Loved this article. I am Christian, single, and a lawyer representing low-income people on death row. For a long time I cringed at the cliche stereotype of a “Proverbs 31 Woman” because I didn’t feel like I could ever meet the “Stepford wife” standard that I felt I had to live up to in order to be desirable to God or to a future spouse. In other words, as a single woman with a strong personality, I felt like I would never be a Proverbs 31 lady – at least not in the way advertised in women’s conference brochures.

    One day I was praying about calling. I came across a verse that said “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” I felt like God have given me a “life verse” that so clearly articulates all of the passion God has placed inside my heart. Later, I went back to find the verse, and was so surprised that it is Proverbs 31:8-9! I felt like the Lord was saying – you ARE a Proverbs 31 woman. I am hoping and praying that I get to move on to verses 10-31, but I love how God cares about our hearts, and gives us Kingdom purpose regardless of marital status!

    Like

  31. This is very touching…am currently going through a rough time in my marriage…but I believe Gods at work.
    Thank you…very inspiring.

    Like

Leave a reply to Carolina Cancel reply