Growing up in the Christian faith, I was taught to strive to be a woman of God. As I got older, I noticed that more and more this conversation centered around Proverbs 31, the last chapter of Proverbs, which speaks about a "virtuous woman." In Christianity, Proverbs 31 has become the go-to passage for how to be a good Christian woman, but I have an issue with that. I am more than a Proverbs 31 woman.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Proverbs 31. I know that it is true and it is Scripture and that every woman should strive to meet the standards it sets forth. However, Proverbs 31 speaks almost exclusively about virtuous women in the respect to being a mother and wife. While this is an important aspect of the Christian woman's life, we are much more than that.

I am more than a Proverbs 31 woman who sews and cooks and sells things to make money for her family. I strive to find worth other than my home relationships. I am a Deborah, who saved her country when men were too scared to, and whose reign as judge brought the people back to the Lord. I am a Rahab, who despite her mistakes found faith strong enough to save an entire household. I am a Ruth, who recognized that without her man, her life was not over, but instead had the bravery to move on and work to provide for herself and her mother in law. I am an Esther, who was forced into a marriage she did not desire but still saved her country.

The Bible is full of women who were strong without being a wife or a mother. Mary was considered worthy to give birth to the Son of God when she was not even married. Sisters Mary and Martha were two of Jesus' closest friends, and there is no mention of their husbands or families. We look up to these women because they were strong on their own, because they are remembered for their faith in God before their submission to their husband, because they were willing to do the things men were too scared to.

I am more than a Proverbs 31 woman, because my place is not only the home. My place is out in the streets, providing for myself and showing others the love of Christ. However, perhaps the Biblical woman I (and everyone else) am most like is Gomer, because even though I run from Christ time and time again, He relentlessly pursues me. I am more than Proverbs 31, and I am not ashamed.