A Woman’s Strength Can Grow Through God

When life feels overwhelming, most of us want the same thing: relief. A break from the action, a nap, a good cry. We long for a change in our circumstances, something that aligns better with our energy, our capacity, or our comfort.

But what if the very thing we need most isn’t escape, but strength? What if instead of asking for life to get easier, we began to pray for God to make us stronger?

Rediscovering a Forgotten Virtue

Strength may not be the first word many women use to describe themselves. We think of nurture, encouragement, tenderness beautiful qualities that often feel incompatible with the gritty resilience needed to handle life’s relentless demands. Our weaknesses feel louder than our strength. We draw firm boundaries but hesitate to extend them. We settle for survival when God might be inviting us to grow stronger.

Scripture never asks us to pretend we’re strong when we’re not. But it also doesn’t leave us helpless. On the contrary, God promises to meet our weakness with His power:

• “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29).

• “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might” (Colossians 1:11).

• “Whoever serves, let him serve by the strength that God supplies” (1 Peter 4:11).

And perhaps most famously, Jesus told Paul, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” To which Paul responded, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

The Strength of the Proverbs 31 Woman

Nowhere in Scripture do we see feminine strength portrayed more powerfully than in Proverbs 31. This woman is no passive bystander. She is active, discerning, productive, joyful and strong. She “dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong” (Proverbs 31:17). Her character is marked by a courage that faces the future with laughter, not fear.

The Hebrew word used to describe her chayil is elsewhere used to describe warriors and armies (Joshua 8:3; 1 Samuel 17:20). It carries connotations of valor, ability, and endurance. This is not a picture of dainty fragility. It is a vision of godly strength in action.

This woman is strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She gets things done and does them with a smile. She’s wise, she’s generous, she’s fearless, and her life blesses everyone around her.

And while many modern women read this passage and feel overwhelmed or even discouraged by the standard, that’s not its intent. This portrait isn’t meant to induce guilt but to awaken hope because this kind of strength is not reserved for “superwomen.” It’s a strength that grows, with God’s help, one day at a time.

Strength That Grows Over Time

So what kind of strength does this woman have?

1. She Has Capacity

Her life is marked by action. She rises early, plans well, works hard, and provides for her household. She turns every resource into an opportunity to serve others. And though her activity is impressive, it flows from a deeper source: willingness. She has “willing hands” (Proverbs 31:13).

2. She Has Endurance

She doesn’t just show up occasionally she shows up consistently. Whether it’s rising early or staying up late (verse 15, 18), she meets the demands of her life with energy and faithfulness. She doesn’t settle for yesterday’s effort; she grows stronger for today’s needs.

3. She Has Reliability

Her husband trusts her, and her household depends on her (verse 11). Her care extends beyond her family to the poor and needy (verse 20). She’s not blown about by the winds of emotion or fatigue. She’s steady, dependable, and wise.

4. She Has Emotional Resilience

The future doesn’t shake her it makes her smile. That’s not because her life is carefree, but because her faith runs deep. “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come” (verse 25). Her peace comes not from her plans but from her Provider.

5. She Has Spiritual Strength

At the core of her life is a holy fear of God. “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (verse 30). She speaks with wisdom and teaches kindness (verse 26). Her strength is not about grit alone, but grace—grace rooted in reverence for the One who holds her life.

Strength You Can Build

You may be thinking, “That sounds amazing, but I’m not there.” The good news? You don’t have to be there yet. Strength is something that grows.

It grows as we say yes to today’s responsibilities. It grows when we serve others with love. It grows when we respond to setbacks with faith instead of fear. And it grows when we depend not on ourselves, but on the God who strengthens the weak.

John Calvin once wrote, “When today is better than yesterday our effort is not wasted.” Strength isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about outpacing yourself with God’s help inch by inch.

From Strength to Strength

Psalm 84:7 says that those who trust in the Lord “go from strength to strength.” That’s the path the Proverbs 31 woman walks. And it’s the path available to you.

Her life wasn’t easy. But it was fruitful, beautiful, and strong because it was lived in the fear of the Lord. And that same strength can be yours not all at once, but day by day.

So instead of praying for easier circumstances, ask God to make you stronger. Instead of resenting your weakness, embrace it as the place where God’s power shines. Instead of feeling disqualified by what you can’t do, grow into the woman God is shaping you to be.

Let strength grow in you. One task, one challenge, one prayer at a time. Because in Christ, you are not weak and forgotten. You are capable. You are called. And you are growing strong.

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