The verses above bring to mind Mary and the magnitude of the task which lay ahead of her as the mother of God’s Son. Certainly, she had these qualities and was well equipped to carry out her assignment.

In Luke 2:25-32, Simeon, who had long awaited Jesus’ birth, spoke blessings over Him, but then had some “words of warning” for this young mother. Imagine hearing, “. . . there will be many who oppose Him, and as a result, a sword will pierce your very soul.” That would make our hearts and minds race! But Mary was well versed in the Word of God and was well equipped to handle all that lay ahead.

Like Mary, we face challenges within our families, and we too must equip ourselves to carry out our God-given assignments.

Querido Padre Celestial,

Thank you for entrusting me with the precious gift of my family. When I face circumstances that are overwhelming, I ask that You provide me with the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to handle the situation so that it honors You. Help me to apply myself daily so that I will know and listen to Your promptings as You guide me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

We can’t wait until a dire situation arises before we reach out to God. Like the Proverbs 31 woman, we must do our part to equip ourselves. Begin today to become a student of the Word, reading and studying for your own benefit. Make it a daily habit to spend some uninterrupted time in prayer, sharing your heart and learning to listen to and obey His promptings.