The Marks of Mature Manhood and Womanhood: Part 2

Beloved Kinney,

Last week I talked about two essential (though not distinct) characteristics of mature
manhood. Let’s now do the same for mature womanhood.

Obviously, I don’t have much experience being a woman(!), but the Bible gives
principles on godly womanhood that I can address! A helpful passage is 1 Peter 3:1-6:

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if
some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the
conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure
conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair
and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let
your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very
precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to
adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah
obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do
good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Peter is pressing into a few key characteristics necessary for godly womanhood (not
distinct to, but emphatically necessary for godly womanhood).

1) A Peaceful Disposition
Ladies, Peter warns against the primary way you express your beauty being external.
He says to let your beauty come from the heart—"a gentle and quiet spirit.”

That’s not talking about a mousy personality. This is a description opposite of the
nagging, contentious woman in Proverbs of whom it is said, “It is better to live in a
corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” (Proverbs
21:9)

Ladies, strive to be this peaceful woman who exudes a peaceful heart in the Lord. How
can you do that? This leads to the next characteristic…

2) Fear-crushing Hope
Peter says a godly woman is one who “hopes in God” which leads her not to “fear
anything that is frightening.” By definition of your more vulnerable state as a woman
(i.e., “weaker vessel”), ladies…you will likely be more prone to fear and anxiety. Pursue
hope in God to kill fear.

I praise God for the many ladies in our church with peaceful dispositions because they
have a fear-crushing hope! Keep pursuing such characteristics for the glory of God.

Love,
Pastor Josh