Becoming Who God Says I Am
There’s a kind of strength the world applauds, a loud, brash, self-promoting kind of power. It demands attention, thrives on independence, and often finds its worth in busyness and busyness alone. But there’s another kind of strength—quiet, rooted, immovable. It’s the strength of a godly woman. The kind that holds steady in storms, fights battles on her knees and radiates dignity not because of what she does but because of Who she belongs to.
That’s the kind of woman I’m learning to be.
Strength that Prevails
She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.
Proverbs 31:17 (NKJV)
This verse isn’t talking about physical fitness, though that is an important part of being a godly woman (but that’s another blog for another day). It’s about being prepared. Ready. Positioned. It’s the image of a woman who doesn’t wait for life to happen to her but instead leans into God and rises with boldness to meet whatever comes her way. She “girds herself with strength,” not her own, but the strength of the Lord.
There was a time when I measured my worth by what I could do, how much I could endure, or how perfectly I could hold everything together. And, if I’m honest, there are times when I still wrestle with it. But that kind of strength will only take you so far. Eventually, you’ll hit the wall physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And when I did, I came face to face with a truth that changed everything: I don’t have to be enough because Christ already is.
That realization didn’t make me weaker. It made me stronger.
True strength is born when we stop trying to carry the weight of the world alone and start resting in the One who already carried it all to the cross. It’s found in surrender. In intimacy with Jesus. In the quiet confidence of knowing who we are in Him.
Dignity Isn’t Just Grace Under Pressure
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)
There’s something so powerful about this verse. She’s clothed with strength and dignity, wrapped in it like a garment. It’s not something she puts on for show; it’s who she is. And that kind of dignity can’t be manufactured. It’s the fruit of a life rooted in the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of her identity in Christ.
Dignity is not arrogance. It’s not pride or pretense. It’s knowing, deep down, that you are a daughter of the King. And when you know who you are, you don’t have to prove yourself. You don’t have to perform for approval or shrink back in insecurity. You walk tall, not because of what you bring to the table, but because the Spirit of the Living God dwells within you.
Strength and dignity are the birthright of every woman who belongs to Jesus.
That means when life throws punches, when the diagnosis comes, the finances fall apart, the relationship breaks down, you don’t crumble. You might bend, you might weep, but you do not break. Why? Because your hope is anchored in eternity. Because when you are 50 trillion years old in heaven, you won’t even be thinking about this part of your life—it will simply pale in comparison to the glory you are embraced by every moment of every day, forever and ever (2 Corinthians 4:17).
You’ve tasted the goodness of God. You’ve seen His faithfulness. You know He’s the One who goes before you, hems you in behind, and walks beside you through it all.
Who You Are Changes Everything
When you know your identity in Christ, you stop living like a beggar and start walking like the beloved. You stop searching for your reflection in the eyes of others and start seeing yourself through the eyes of your Father.
You are:
- Chosen (1 Peter 2:9)
- Redeemed (Ephesians 1:7)
- Seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
- God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)
- More than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)
That’s not just Bible-speak. That’s truth. And when we internalize those truths, they begin to transform how we walk through every season of life.
When you know you're a daughter of the King, you don’t settle for less than God’s best. You don’t chase validation because you’ve already been validated by the One who knit you together in your mother’s womb. You stop comparing and competing because you know there's no competition in the Kingdom, there is only calling.
Strength Looks Like Trust
The woman in Proverbs 31 can “laugh at the days to come.” That always gets me. She’s not just prepared for the future, she’s unafraid of it. That kind of peace doesn’t come from a padded savings account, the perfect husband, or a solid five-year plan. It comes from trust.
To laugh at the future means you’ve surrendered it . You’ve handed over the anxiety, the what-ifs, the unanswered prayers, and said, “God, You are good, and You are faithful. So whatever comes, I’m not alone.”
That’s real strength. That’s dignity.
And let me tell you, it’s not something that happens overnight. It’s forged in the fire. In the trials that push you to your knees. In the seasons where you feel like you’ve got nothing left but your “yes” to God. It’s in those places that He begins to build you, not with the world’s materials, but with the unshakable truth of His Word.
Becoming That Woman
If you’re anything like me, you read Proverbs 31 and feel a little (or a lot) overwhelmed. Thinking, how is this even possible? She’s got it all together! But here’s what I’ve learned: the goal isn’t to do it all. It’s to become the woman God created you to be one step at a time, with Him leading the way.
Strength and dignity don’t come from striving; they come from abiding.
So, if you want to become that kind of woman:
- Spend time in God’s Word. Let His truth shape how you see yourself.
- Surround yourself with women who walk with wisdom and speak life.
- Pray boldly, trust deeply, and let go of what you can’t control.
- Stay surrendered. Stay teachable. Stay close to Jesus.
You don’t have to have it all together to be a godly woman, you just have to keep showing up with your whole heart and expecting to encounter Jesus. His love, His presence, His peace is what will transform and strengthen you.
God isn't looking for perfection. He’s looking for women who will say, "Here I am, Lord. Use me. Strengthen me. Teach me to walk in Your ways." And the beautiful thing is, He will.
A Legacy of Strength
One day, I want to be remembered not for how “strong” I was in the world’s eyes but for the quiet strength I carried because I knew Jesus. I want to be the kind of woman who built her life on the Rock. Who wasn’t shaken by storms. Who radiated peace and walked with purpose. Who laughed at the days to come not because she was fearless but because she was faithful.
That’s the legacy I want, who I want my daughter (and her daughter) to become. That’s the life I’m pursuing.
Because being a woman of strength and dignity isn’t just about who I am. It’s about Whose I am.
And friend, if you’re walking with Jesus, that same strength, that same dignity, that same calling, is yours, too.
So walk in it.
Clothe yourself in it.
And let the world see what it really means to be a godly woman.