Soul Scientist

Proverbs 31:8

CSB Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

CEB Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.

Since today is New Year’s Eve (i.e. December 31), I thought it fitting that I read Proverbs chapter 31 to start my morning. Having grown up with the idea “a proverb a day keeps the devil away” along with Proverbs chapter 31 being the ideal for virtuous women, I thought I needed a refresher on how my days should look in 2025.

But I was surprised at what sprung up in my mind and heart when reading that chapter…

I expected the reminder of what a Proverbs 31 woman did during her day in diligently working hard to provide for her family. I expected conviction for the value of planning and the perspective of carpe diem (“seize the day”). I expected a closer look at the contents of my heart and mind in comparison with what they should be.

Yet what bloomed in my mind and heart wasn’t the expected conviction about what I wasn’t doing. Instead, what bloomed was an affirming courage to keep choosing the truth of the goodness of my Good God.  

And that courage was exactly what I needed for today.

The courage to keep on choosing to believe and abide in the goodness of my Good God Who promises [He] will never leave nor will [He] turn away (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).

The courage to keep choosing God and His good plan for good for me and others, even and especially when good seems implausible and improbable (see Romans 8:28).

The courage to keep trusting God for the strength for today and the never-disappointing hope for tomorrow in the knowledge that we know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit he gave us. (Romans 5:5 ERV).

The courage to keep listening and praying to my Jesus Who says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).

The courage to keep writing and speaking truth from Scripture for those who are dispossessed in their wildernesses, voiceless in their losses, or vulnerable in their pain.

The courage to give voice to the truth in love hoping it will encourage many to choose to believe our Good God in and with their lives, especially when all seems lost or gone (see Ephesians 3:14).

The courage to acknowledge that I can do nothing while nothing is too hard for my Sovereign Shepherd God (Jeremiah 32:17 ESV).

The courage to proclaim that nothing can stop the Holy Spirit speaking via Scripture to bring the courage, conviction, comfort, and consolation necessary for a next step of faith in a wilderness journey (see Isaiah 55:11).

I need that kind of courage for today and every day.

Because I’m learning that each day in this wilderness is full of choice after choice after choice. And most of these choices aren’t easy, logical, or simple. I’m also learning that each choice is a stepping-stone towards believing my God is good (or not).

Each choice, every choice is important in trusting God as good and that He will use all things for His glory and the good of His people (see Romans 8:28). God isn’t confined to what I know, can do, or understand. He is mighty with all power and no limits to His workings.

He gives the courage to trust Him when the choices require more faith than I have.

I can’t rely on myself. But I can rely on my God.

Logic tells me to receive only what seems helpful and not trust my Good God to give what is truly good, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Self-protection tells me to give out only what’s easy to benefit me and not trust my Good God to use all of me for His glory and the good of His people.

Yet Scripture doesn’t tell me to choose what’s easy or logical.

Scripture tells me a woman who has the fear of the Lord should be praised (Proverbs 31:30b GNT). Scripture also tells me the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7a NIV). And as a woman who knows a bit about fear and knowledge, I see protection, provision, and peace for me from my Good God in these truths.

Protection for my mind and heart against the pit of despair and the power of denial. Thank You, Jesus, for Your constant Presence empowering us so we can be obedient to Your command to be brave and courageous (see Joshua 1:9).

Provision to carry good news of my Jesus to those in need of hope and to continue believing He’s holding fast to all of us. Thank You, Jesus, for Your continual prayers for us to trust You when we don’t know how we can take another step in our wildernesses (see Philippians 4:6).

Peace to comfort all pain, grief, and loss and to give courage to stand and to stride through this dusty wilderness. Thank You, Jesus, for Your committed Purpose for our salvation and sanctification through following You in suffering and in satisfaction alike (see Galatians 2:20).

Yes, in suffering or in satisfaction, our Good God reigns.

Sovereign and Supreme. Loving and Merciful

Yes, in the happy and in the hard, our Good God reigns.

Omnipotent and Omnipresent. Gracious and Kind.

Yes, in today and in tomorrow, our Good God reigns.

And the truth that He reigns gives me the courage to keep standing and striding in faith today and to trust Him with tomorrow.

That truth can do the same for you for whatever challenge you face.

For our Good God reigns in all things, with all peoples, and for all time. He reigns in the wilderness of this day and the heaven of all tomorrows.

And I’m praying that you and me both will know and be set free by that truth of His eternal reign all the way down to the smallest particle of the soil of our souls.

written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2024.

If you’re looking for more hope for the coming year, I’d be delighted if you’d consider using one of my books for your individual quiet time or group study. You can find links for them on the “books by Beth” page here on the blog or on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and other online book distributors. Thank you!