You Are Worth Celebrating
LYSA TERKEURST
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“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 (ESV)
Do you ever find yourself feeling like you don’t measure up because of what you’ve been through? Me too.
I was a young mom when I first read Proverbs 31, which describes a woman of noble character. I thought the Proverbs 31 woman was overwhelmingly perfect.
Through many seasons and hard realities I’ve walked through since then, I’ve sometimes found myself feeling not just intimidated but even defeated by this biblical woman whose entire life seems full of praises.
That’s why my heart feels especially tender toward those who would rather skip over this passage of Scripture. I know what it’s like to have these words sit heavy on your heart with a resounding declaration of I’m not enough.
But what if I told you the heart behind Proverbs 31:10-31 is one of celebration and not condemnation?
The first thing I want us to note is that this isn’t just a chapter about “an excellent wife” (Proverbs 31:10, ESV). The Hebrew phrase eshet chayil here could also be translated as "woman of valor." It means a courageous woman. A woman of strength and dignity.
And the fact that you are reading this devotion, seeking God and pursuing healing for the painful circumstances you’ve walked through, is evidence that you are a woman of valor, courage, strength, and dignity. So Proverbs 31 is for you and me.
In Jewish culture, these verses are read out loud on the Sabbath as a celebration of women. This in no way condemns what they aren’t but rather celebrates how they, in their own unique expressions, live out the virtues detailed in this chapter. These aren’t words merely meant to tell a woman she is supposed to be more. They are a celebration of who she is.
Isn’t that the way it should be?
Proverbs 31 calls courageous women to celebrate each other and to be celebrated — all under the banner of honoring God, serving out of love, and smiling at the future. I love how Proverbs 31:30 reminds us of what is truly worth celebrating:
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
Notice it’s not the woman with a spotless house who is to be praised. It’s not the mom who never skips pages when reading books to her perfectly behaved children. Honestly, it’s not just the woman who is married and has children.
It’s the woman who fears the Lord who is to be praised. This type of fear refers to having a heart completely in awe of God. It describes a woman who honors God by seeking Him in everything she does and trusting Him wholeheartedly. She has a heart of reverence that overflows into a life of spiritual maturity and wisdom.
And let’s not forget to look at these verses within the context of why God gave us this book of the Bible. The very first chapter of Proverbs tells us it exists so we can gain wisdom, instruction, understanding, insight, knowledge, discretion, and guidance. Proverbs 2:1-5 goes on to remind us that as we receive and apply God’s commands, we will find knowledge of the Lord.
Wisdom is both a gift from God and a process of learning. I know this passage of Scripture can easily trip us up, but what if we take God at His word and choose to believe Proverbs 31 holds good and pleasant things for us?
What if we challenge ourselves to look at it closely, seeing what blessings and what lessons we can find? What if we speak these words over ourselves and the other women in our lives as a form of celebration rather than condemnation, realizing our stories don’t disqualify us?
God tucked these words into His Word for all eternity, dear friend. And that tells me they are needed and meant for our good. Let’s ask Him to help us learn from them today.
Father God, I confess that at times I look at the Proverbs 31 woman and feel like I will never be enough. But I realize her purpose isn’t to shame me for all I think I’m not. Her example is there to remind me to look to You and live for You in all I do. Help me receive these words from You as a gift. And show me how to live them out according to the unique way You purposefully designed me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Proverbs 31:25, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come” (NIV).
Which part of Proverbs 31 blesses you the most today? What verses in this passage can you receive as a celebration of the woman you already are? Join the conversation today in the comments.
© 2026 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Thursday, 09 July 2026.
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