wisdom & the fear of God
In a culture that tells women to be louder, faster, and more self-made, Scripture invites us to be something very different: wise.
Not trendy.
Not reactive.
Not ruled by emotion or impulse.
But wise.
This conversation is rooted in a truth Scripture makes unmistakably clear:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
— Proverbs 9:10
Not the end.
Not the reward.
The beginning.
And when we skip the beginning, everything built after it eventually collapses.
What the Fear of God Actually Is
When Scripture speaks about the fear of the Lord, it is not describing a cowering fear that drives us away from God. It is a holy awareness—an understanding of who God is and who we are not.
Proverbs tells us:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
— Proverbs 1:7
Wisdom requires humility.
Foolishness rejects instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the posture that says, “God, You are God. I am not. Your ways are higher than mine.”
This posture keeps us teachable.
It guards us from arrogance.
It anchors our decisions when emotions are loud.
For women—who are deeply relational, intuitive, and emotionally aware—the fear of the Lord becomes a stabilizer. It keeps discernment from turning into anxiety and confidence from turning into pride.
Wisdom Is Not Information — It’s Formation
One of the greatest misunderstandings today is thinking wisdom is about knowing more.
But Scripture presents wisdom as a way of life, not a data set.
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
— Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom requires pursuit. It requires choice. It requires action.
The Book of Sirach puts this beautifully:
“To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in the womb.”
— Sirach 1:14
Wisdom isn’t accidental.
It’s cultivated.
It is formed in women who are faithful in the hidden places—women who submit their thoughts, habits, and desires to God over time.
Wisdom is built in:
restraint
patience
obedience
silence when the world demands reaction
Why Wisdom Is Essential for Women
Scripture consistently personifies wisdom as a woman.
In Proverbs 8, Wisdom speaks:
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.”
— Proverbs 8:12
Wisdom is not chaotic.
She is not impulsive.
She is not dramatic.
She is steady, discerning, and anchored.
Yet women today are constantly pressured to:
speak before listening
act before discerning
feel before obeying
Wisdom asks different questions:
Does this honor God?
Is this producing peace or pride?
Is this aligned with truth—or just emotion?
Sirach tells us:
“Wisdom exalts her children and gives help to those who seek her. Whoever loves her loves life.”
— Sirach 4:11–12
Wisdom protects women.
Wisdom preserves women.
Wisdom keeps us from destroying what God is building—our health, our relationships, our callings, and our witness.
The Tension Between Calling and Self-Exaltation
This is personal for me.
One of my ongoing struggles has been pride—not loud arrogance, but the quiet kind rooted in performance. Tying my worth to my abilities. Feeling the need to prove myself.
Choosing to be led by the Spirit is not a one-time decision. It’s a daily renewal of the mind.
This is for the workhorse women. The ones who build. The ones who carry responsibility well.
A friend once asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks:
Will anyone remember me when I’m gone?
Will they remember my name? My work? My impact?
Will anyone remember The Refinery Movement?
NO ONE WILL. I JUST WANT THEM TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF JESUS.
Sirach speaks directly to this tension.
“I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist.”
— Sirach 24:3
Wisdom does not announce herself.
She does not perform.
She covers quietly—like mist.
And later:
“Those who eat of me will hunger for more, and those who drink of me will thirst for more.”
— Sirach 24:22
That has reshaped how I think about influence.
If people remember me—but not God—I’ve failed.
If they remember the brand—but not Wisdom—I’ve missed the mark.
Visibility is not inherently sinful.
Jesus Himself said:
“A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
— Matthew 5:14
The issue is not being seen.
The issue is why.
The better question is not “Will anyone know my name?”
It’s “Whose kingdom is being advanced through my obedience?”
The Fruit of the Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is not restrictive—it is life-giving.
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.”
— Proverbs 14:27
A fountain of life.
Not bondage.
Not control.
Sirach echoes this truth:
“The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish.”
— Sirach 1:18–19
This is why wisdom matters in everyday life:
how we steward our bodies
how we speak
how we choose relationships
how we respond under pressure
Wisdom keeps us from living reactively.
Fear of God keeps us from living recklessly.
How to Walk in Wisdom Daily
Scripture makes this simple—and accessible.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.”
— James 1:5
Wisdom begins with prayer.
But it grows through:
obedience when it’s uncomfortable
silence when pride wants the mic
patience when emotions want control
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make straight your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6
Wisdom trusts God even when clarity hasn’t arrived yet.
Closing: A Better Aim
If you want to be grounded, discerning, and unshaken in a noisy world—don’t chase influence.
Chase wisdom.
And wisdom begins with the fear of God—not fear that drives you away, but reverence that draws you closer.
Because when God is rightly placed in authority,
everything else finds its proper place too.