She Laughs At The Days To Come

"She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy. She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind." Proverbs 31:25-26

These are some difficult days. I've been speaking to many women that feel overwhelmed by it all. Many feel as if they can hardly keep their head above water. Balancing the duties of wife, mother, career, friend...it is all much more difficult to balance with the added chaos of the times we are living in.

The NLT version of the above verse is that "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." I wonder what type of woman that is that can have joy within the trials of life.

I read an article recently that spoke of God's promises. It said, "No matter how hard you lean on them – they will never break!" The Bible reveals God's character as One who cannot lie and He also remains constant, steady.

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." Hebrews 10:23

The truth that God is trust-worthy in these tough times is the foundation that enables us to stand strong.

I believe the key to being "clothed with strength and honor" is directly related to our mindset. The believer spoken of in Isaiah's day speaks loudly, "(I) will enable the virgin, the daughter of Zion, to despise the rage of her enemies and laugh them to scorn." Isaiah 37:22

Matthew Henry's Commentary states it like this: "Those who receive messages of terror from men with patience, and send messages of faith to God by prayer, may expect messages of grace and peace from God for their comfort, even when they are most cast down."

When we turn to God in prayer through every circumstance we face, He assures us that not only will He comfort us but He will act on our behalf.

Matthew Henry's Commentary goes on to say that for all the impotent malice and menace we face at the hand of the enemy (Satan); she (God's people) knows that, while He preserves her integrity, she can be sure of God's divine protection, and that though the enemy may bark he cannot bite. All his threats are a joke in the light of God's great and precious promises.

1 Corinthians 15:55:57 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

I take great comfort in knowing that no matter what we face, God is there to walk beside us, even carry us when we feel we cannot continue. Jesus has won the victory over the enemy and ultimately, in the end...we win.

Psalms 37:13 says, "The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming."

It's interesting how many ways the Bible describes how we laugh at situations. We, as His daughters can laugh at the days to come, knowing that God is in control. God laughs at His enemies because He knows that He has already won the victory.

At first, when God told Abraham that Sarah would indeed bear a child in her old age, scripture says she laughed. She actually thought, "Really? This old body is going to finally have the long-awaited promise?" (Genesis 18:12-15) But in Hebrews, Sarah is described as holding fast to her faith that God would do what He said He would do:

"It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise." Hebrews 11:11

So, my prayer is that God would reveal how to look beyond our circumstances because nothing is impossible with Him. That we learn to live in anticipation of what He is doing through every circumstance. Knowing He is fully in control and has our best in mind is a great comfort.

Do not let your situation dictate whether or not you keep your peace and joy in the Lord. Resolve today that you will stay hopeful for what God is about to do for you and that He will get you through it.