Strong from the Inside Out - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 24
When I first began studying Proverbs 31, I started reading about the meaning of the word "chayil." It’s translated as “strength” in most English versions, but this small Hebrew word has a significant meaning! It means might, valor, excellence, virtue, and capability. It’s a word used to describe warriors who go into battle prepared, courageous, and committed to victory.
The Proverbs 31 woman, often imagined as the perfect woman, isn’t a quiet figure arranging flowers and baking bread in peace. She’s a warrior. Her strength is purposeful. She’s not superhuman. She is dependent on the God who equips her. All of her strength flows from Him.
That truth began to reshape how I viewed her and, in turn, how I viewed myself.
Strength That Comes from the Source
Psalm 18:32 says, “The God who equipped me with strength…made my way blameless.” The same God who gave David courage to face Goliath gives us strength to face the battles of our everyday lives – the battle against fear, fatigue, discouragement, comparison, or doubt.
When I was a young mom, I often felt very inadequate and like I couldn’t keep up. The standard I held up in my mind was not realistic. I read the parenting books, tried to maintain proper routines, and prayed the right prayers, but still, my house wasn’t always peaceful, and my heart wasn’t always calm.
One afternoon, after a particularly exhausting week of trying to live up to my own impossible standards, I sat there with my Bible open. I felt like a failure. That’s when I sensed God telling me that I needed to be connected to Him and to abide in Him. That moment changed me. I realized I had been treating “strength” as something I could muster, not something I needed to receive. My efforts were replacing my dependence on God.
I learned that True strength is borrowed strength.
Philippians 4:13 took on new meaning: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Those words weren’t written by a man at the height of success, but by Paul in a prison cell. Strength doesn’t come from perfect circumstances. It comes from a surrendered heart.
Strength That Serves
The Proverbs 31 woman doesn’t simply possess strength; she prepares with it. Proverbs 31:17 says, “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” In her time, “girding” oneself meant gathering up loose garments in preparation for work or battle. It was readiness. So, how do I gird my own heart each day? Do I rush into the day relying on my own strength, or do I pause long enough to seek God’s help first?
My goal is to open my Bible before scrolling on my phone. To turn on worship music before checking messages. To pray before I start doing the things on my to-do list. On the mornings I do this, my day doesn’t necessarily go perfectly, but I can move forward in peace and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Strength that isn’t prepared will fall apart under pressure. But strength rooted in God’s Word will stand no matter what happens.
Strength That Stewards
We are also called to steward what God has given us. Proverbs 31:16 says, “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” Her strength spilled into the practical details of life.
God doesn’t separate the spiritual from the physical or mental. We are whole beings, and when one part is neglected, all the others feel it. When I’m not resting or taking care of my body, I notice that my patience runs out and my joy is weakened. When my thoughts spiral with fear or self-doubt, my faith feels shaky.
First Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” That means even the simple acts—choosing healthy food, going for a walk, resting—can become holy when done with the heart to honor Him.
Peter wrote, “Prepare your minds for action, be sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13) That’s mental chayil—training your thoughts to rest on truth.
I’m learning to recognize when my inner dialogue begins to spiral: I’m behind. I’m failing. I’m a burden. That’s when I need to remind myself of 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We take every thought captive to obey Christ.” And replace those lies with truth: God is my strength. His grace is sufficient. I can rest in Him.
That’s what it means to dress yourself in strength from the inside out.
Strength That Stays
One of the most beautiful things about chayil strength is that it grows through perseverance. I used to think spiritual strength was about doing big things for God. But more often, it looks like staying faithful in the quiet. It’s staying gentle when you’ve been hurt. It’s staying hopeful when prayers seem unanswered. Each “yes” to God, whispered in the middle of fatigue or frustration, becomes another layer of spiritual armor.
Isaiah 40:29–31 is applicable here, and so encouraging! “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”
The Proverbs 31 woman’s strength wasn’t self-made—it was God-sustained. It came from walking closely with the One who never grows weary.
The Strongest Thing You Can Do
Your “battlefield” might not look dramatic. It might be the kitchen floor scattered with crumbs, the quiet ache of an empty nest, or the midnight prayer for a child who’s struggling. But no matter where you stand, God is there. His Spirit is your strength. His Word is your weapon. His grace is your rest. You don’t have to have it all together. You have to hold onto the One who does.
The chayil you wear is not your own—it’s Christ in you. Strong. Steady. Sufficient.
Let’s Pray
Lord, thank You for being my strength when I am weak. Help me prepare my heart in Your presence before I step into the day. Teach me to serve with joy, to steward my body, mind, and spirit well, and to depend on You more than on myself. When I grow weary, remind me that true strength isn’t about doing more but trusting You more. May my quiet faith reflect Your power, and may my life testify to Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImagese/SergioYoneda
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
