She lives in the filth and pain of her past when God has invited her into His own home.
Who is this woman?
What is it about a prison with no bars that she would fight to sleep there?
She wears shame as an undergarment, a dress and a coat when God has adorned her with the beauty of salvation.
Do you know this woman?
She says, “I know the bridegroom is coming.” But will she whither like a soggy leaf? Or will she wash and dress herself in righteous deeds?
She hears her name called, yet claims no hope. She is smarter than most, but falls for the lies of her enemy.
Will this woman ever let God move her?
She eats junk and is constantly hungry, drinks from a stagnant well and then thirsts. She turns her back to the bread of life and moans at the thought of pure and cool water. Her taste buds crave only the soothing and sweet.
Her family is fatigued. Her friends won’t answer. Strangers don’t bother to speak. Her prayers are always a cry for help.
Does this woman have arms to accept grace or legs that can take her to mercy?
With so much to overcome, she sleeps. She watches and waits for her ride, not imagining how she will get anywhere.
She looks to faithful believers in worship. Pretends to be like them while the One to be praised weeps for her.
Have you seen this woman?
Some invisible roadblock continually stops her. And the walls she has built are so steep. No human friend can climb them.
She smiles in case someone might see her, but her eyes reveal a different face. She wants us to see humility when it’s pride that exposes her insecurity.
How long does this woman think she can hide?
Her posture stiffens to exude strength, not the strength of a winner, but one who refuses to surrender. She has trained her children to agree and to speak a rigid narrative on her behalf.
She sells herself at a low price and clings to her soul when Christ has already paid. His life for hers.
Why does she laugh at Proverbs 31 and call it a fairytale?
She wishes for another identity and thinks of her purpose as rubbish. She walks middle of the road as if that is a lesser danger.
She has a compelling story, but she, herself, is not compelled . Would she trust her own advice or examples? She tells an old secret to distract from what still matters.
Who does this woman fool by giving a nod to godly council?
She frustrates those who love her. She frustrates herself. Who will look up and see her? Who will stand up for her? Who will offer the hand God might use to lift her up?
Who will walk up to her prison door, step in, and pray with her? Whose prayers will never give up on this woman?
Who, on the day she overcomes, will shout, “I know that woman! She is a friend of mine.”
Now this is the Gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 (NET.)
For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down, because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. 1 John 5: 3-4 (NET).
[This is dedicated to one of my friends who recently stepped out of her comfort zone. Way out. While not all of the statements in this poem are a reflection of her particular struggle and situation, she owns the fact that she has been living in a prison of sorts. But God . . . Yes! But God is about to do something great. Unimaginable. And I can’t wait! In less than one month, I will get to shout, “Hey. I know that woman! She is a friend of mine.”]