A Daily Walk with God: A 365-Day Devotional for Teachers

By Richard Holland

The work of our teachers has often paralleled the history of our nation. Our teachers have helped our country meet its historical challenges and respond to the needs and crises of American society. What other profession can say they have done so much for so many? Teachers have a historic legacy to carry on, and the sacred responsibility to carry it into the future. Our schools have the burden of ensuring the success of every child, and the honor of carrying that burden. The success of our teachers, and our nation's well-being are intimately bound together. Teachers have demonstrated throughout our nation's history, that they will respond to every challenge to insure our American way of life. Our teachers, counselors, coaches and administrators have carried this burden necessary to secure the blessings of liberty for all American citizens. This devotional is written to encourage our teachers who continue to carry this legacy, and sacred responsibility, into the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781644685457

Book preview

January 1

You were sent to teach

We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.

—1 Thessalonians 3:2

Were you called to teach and serve children? Did you play school when you were little, providing instruction to your stuffed animals, little brother, or friends? Perhaps you began in another career and came to teaching later, realizing that teaching would provide greater meaning and fulfillment in your life.

Whatever path brought you to the teaching profession, you are doing God’s work. I believe that you were sent to teach, as much as you were called to teach. Like Timothy, you have been sent to strengthen and encourage the children of your school and community. What greater calling could there be! I know it is as humbling as it is fulfilling, and I thank you for answering the call, and going when you were sent!

Teaching is a sacred responsibility. Think about the impact you have, good or bad, on the children you teach. You are not, not going to have an impact on them. For better or worse, their young lives will be forever altered by your leadership and care of them, or your lack of leadership and lack of care for them. I am reminded of this sacred responsibility when I read Matthew 18:10, See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. If your students have angels that always see the face of God, your leadership and care of them is most definitely a sacred responsibility.

January 2

Teaching them the right way

Teach them the right way to live…

—1 Kings 8:36

Solomon beseeched God to teach his people the right way, so that they would sin no more, and thus earn God’s favor (and much needed rain for their land to grow their crops). If God must teach us the right way to live, I am guessing that we have a right way to teach our students. I’m not talking about teaching strategies (though, vitally important), I’m talking about our character, integrity, and the contents of our hearts. Our character must be true, our integrity must be trustworthy, and our hearts must be right with God. For all we think, say, and do, begins in the heart.

You have earned God’s favor by doing the important work you are doing. Teaching and caring for our children is an awesome, God-given responsibility. God does not want you to be casual in regard to your work. He has given us the ultimate role model to follow, Christ Jesus, in shepherding our children who are so important to him. Our character, integrity, and hearts must mirror his.

Surely, as God sent rain on the land he gave his people for their inheritance, he will shower blessings upon you for teaching our children the right way, so they will learn and grow up well. It is our sacred responsibility!

January 3

Daily encouragement

But encourage one another daily…

—Hebrews 3:13

Not all of your students will get it today. They may not get it tomorrow, nor this entire school year. But the chances are great that they will someday get it. Now, you may wonder, What good will it do then? Blessings do not always immediately follow prayers, either. So we must keep praying, we must keep waiting, we must keep teaching, and we must keep waiting for our students to get it—however quickly or slowly they get it.

It can be entirely frustrating, even demoralizing, when your students don’t get it, or don’t seem to care about getting it. They may not learn your Algebra curriculum, but if you encourage them every day, they will learn that you care and believe in them. And that may be the best lesson you can teach them today. They will remember you for that, and they will have you to thank for helping them finally get it, whenever that is.

In this age of accountability when only results seem to matter, I have to tell you that other things do matter. If the student you have worked so hard to help does poorly on the State Competency Algebra Test, your reputation and compensation may suffer. But that is someone else’s assessment of your work. Imagine that you have encouraged your student, expressed your high regard for him and your ultimate belief in him—imagine what he will learn from you: you believed in him when the Accountability Squad did not. If that child has an angel in heaven who always sees the face of God, you have to know that God will be pleased with your work. And he is the ultimate authority of accountability.

January 4

Teaching Your Ways

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you…

—Exodus 33:13

We are all aware that teachers teach more than their curriculums—you also teach the unwritten, or unspoken curriculum, of what is important in life and how we should treat others. You teach your students that you believe in them and have high regard for them. In Christ, we have the perfect model to emulate in working with our students. In him, we find the proper values that should guide our lives and how we treat others.

Your students watch and listen to you—how you speak and treat them and others, your value for authority, your value for justice and mercy, etc. There is so much they learn from you, and so much they will remember about you, long after they have forgotten your lessons about sedimentary rocks or the Missouri Compromise.

He has shown you, O Mortals, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Your students will remember the sermon they see from you, more than the sermon they hear from you. We should be very responsible with our words and actions because they will influence our students deeply, and God holds us accountable for our influence on them.

January 5

It is a matter of heart

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.

—Proverbs 3:1–2

You play an important role in helping your students achieve peace and prosperity. Not just the knowledge and skills that you teach them to help them do better in their jobs, but also what you teach their hearts. Just as our relationship with Christ is a matter of having the right heart, our relationship with our students is also about having the right heart.

When you win their hearts—through affirmation, encouragement, celebration, and even with positive words of correction, they will follow you. This is the intersection of the science and art of teaching. Yes, you must correct your students and are right to do so, but how you do it is the art of teaching. You can correct students without condemning them; you can correct them and inspire them with your regard for them and belief in them.

If your heart is right with them, they will respond to you. Oh, they may pout for a while about your correction, but continue to encourage them as you correct them. You may have to be patient, and continue encouraging them long after you think you should, but persevere. They will eventually come around and follow you. When they do, they will keep your love in their hearts and that will help them achieve peace and prosperity.

January 6

His unfailing Love

When I said, my foot is slipping, your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

—Psalm 94:18–19

Your students test your patience; parents show little appreciation and sometimes, lots of contempt; administrators show conditional support if your students do well on the State Accountability Tests. What do you do when the work gets really hard, and it appears that you have little support?

I hope you have a trusted colleague you can turn to talk about how you feel. This can help immeasurably. Veteran colleagues, especially, can help provide perspective to push on through the anxiety you may feel. Every teacher experiences disappointment. Even the very best teachers do.

The Psalmist in this passage turned to God, the rock in whom I take refuge (verse 22), because the Lord had become his fortress (verse 22). You can go there too! To his fortress! And this isn’t just for the consolation runner-up prize we are talking about. It is the consoling arms of the mighty God of the universe who brings us joy in all circumstances—even when your students test your patience, parents show little appreciation, and administrators show conditional support.

January 7

Do not be Discouraged

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

—2 Chronicles 20:17

We may not be facing an enemy army like the people of Judah, but we do face challenges, temptations, and pressures. What are we to do with them? You have classrooms full of young people to nurture and grow; you have a family to take care of, bills to pay, a spouse to love, a house to keep. It is a lot of pressure and a lot of work.

As believers, we have God’s Spirit in us. If we ask for God’s help when we face struggles, God will fight for us, and he always triumphs. I hope you will find a quiet moment to stop amidst the storm of life, and allow God to remind you of who you are—you are his child, and he cares deeply for you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, does not mean that something is wrong with you if you feel fear or discouragement. It simply means that you can trust these things to him. These battles you fight are God’s battles. Allow his strength to work through your fears and discouragement. When you do, you too will be able to go out to face them again, tomorrow and the next day.

January 8

Practical faith

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

—Psalm 46:1

Our God walks with us through our troubles, gives us strength to endure them, and is the only one who can give us victory over them. As David said in an earlier Psalm, He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire (Psalm 40:2). We have pits in our lives—really dark and low places that grieve us terribly.

But He set my feet upon a rock (Psalm 40:2), which means that God had rescued David from that pit. And even though David had been in that terrible place, God, put a new song in my mouth (Psalm 40:3). This is our God. He is a God who is active and involved in every detail of our lives, and no detail is too small to surrender to him. He loves you that much!

Whatever trial you are experiencing at school, at home, with your family, your friends, you can depend on God to (1) bring you out of the horrible pit, (2) set your feet upon a rock, and (3) put a new song in your mouth. No matter your trouble, God will be your ever-present help, your refuge and strength, and faith in a God who does that makes a lot of sense.

January 9

You can do everything through him

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

—Philippians 4:13

You are asked to do a whole lot for others, day after day after day. People who work with children are great at sacrificing. It’s what you do…you sacrifice! Think about it for a minute. From as early as you can remember, you were probably a giver. You gave and felt good about giving. Occasionally this meant sharing your popcorn or candy with your younger brother or sister who wanted some just because you had some. You didn’t hide it or guard it…you sacrificed it!

You are great at sacrifice. Heck, who even comes close? You give students lunch money without a thought of it being repaid. You bring clothes from home to give to students in need. You give to the United Way, and Relay for Life, and other charities of your choice. You volunteer at church. You volunteer in your neighborhood. You make meals for your colleagues’ families who experience unfortunate circumstances. You hurt when your friends are in pain. You give physical, and emotional, support when it is needed. You sacrifice—it is what you do!

You call parents in the evening while you are at home. You spend hours grading papers and planning lessons at home. You finish reports at home. You bring stuff, or buy things, to support your work and your students, from home! You teach students about life itself…as well as school stuff. You model responsibility, integrity, compassion, and the importance of sacrifice.

You also manage to cook, clean up, do laundry, change diapers, take the kids to soccer, basketball, football, baseball, dance, cheerleading, piano, pack lunches, put the kids to bed, water the plants, tend the garden, feed the animals, listen to spouses talk about their day (as if it could compete with yours), set out the breakfast dishes and cereal, and get up the next day and do it all again.

Unendingly! Do you think you can cram any more into twenty-four hours? And you wish you had more hours in a day! Geez! But…that’s what you do. You give and you sacrifice. You wouldn’t change much either, would you? And as if that wasn’t quite enough, you increase your life’s pace to warp factor five by working on that next degree! It’s only two or three years of extra work. Sacrifice!

Who gives and sacrifices more than you? Some of you are probably acknowledging that Mother Teresa sacrificed more. For goodness sake! Well, thank goodness you do sacrifice like you do, because your sacrifices are investments in your family, your students, and your community. And each investment eventually earns dividends for your family, students, and community. Our world needs your sacrifices, because there are enough takers in the world, people willing to enjoy the benefits of others’ sacrifices, without making the needed investments themselves.

My hope is that the cumulative effect of your sacrifices, and the resulting dividends, will far outweigh the effect of those who are not willing to do what you do. I think it is the only way for our communities and our nation to thrive.

You are like Wonder Woman and Super Man, able to do things mere mortals cannot. When you are feeling pretty good about what you are able to accomplish, or when you are feeling like you can’t do much, remember he who gives you the strength to do what you can. And then give him thanks!

January 10

Where does your joy come from?

But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing, and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from the region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

—Acts 13:50–52

Do you ever have days when you think, you just can’t win? A student will not listen, an angry parent sends a nasty email, your administrator comes to observe you on the day you are least prepared? Believers have those days, too. Our faith is not protection from trouble.

Even the great disciples Paul and Barnabas were rejected for bringing the good news of Jesus’s salvation to the people of Antioch. Can you imagine being rejected for bringing such good news? Think about this: even Jesus, the Messiah, God’s one and only son, was rejected, persecuted, and crucified. When I think about his suffering, I imagine that I, too, may have to suffer some things.

What is so great about our faith in Jesus is his forgiveness, his salvation, and his relationship. When we walk through life with Jesus, we sometimes have to walk through trials, but all the while, even when we are rejected and expelled, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live with a joy that cannot be expelled from our hearts. It is ours forever and ever. He is our counselor and encourager always, and most especially on days when you have one of those days.

January 11

Where are you?

But the Lord God called to the man, Where are you?

—Genesis 3:9

This is a question God asks us every day, and not because he can’t find us or doesn’t know where we live, work, or play. He knows where our house is, where our school is, where we work, and where the gym is where we work out. The question is not about our location; it is about the condition of our heart toward him!

Moses documented the deception of Adam and Eve, and their subsequent betrayal of God’s direction to not eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God knew what they had done, but he was asking them to assess their obedience to him. He was asking them about the condition of their hearts toward him. It was like he was asking them, Where do you stand in relationship to me?

I have always found this message comforting. God created us and wants a relationship with us and cares enough to ask us about our relationship with him—not to condemn us, but rather to remind us of his love and compassion for us. The greatest evidence of this, of course, is giving us his Son, Jesus, to insure we no longer have to hide from him.

So where are you today? He wants to spend time with you. In your busy life of work, study, family, friends, duties, and obligations, where are you with him? Is there a way for you to carve a little time to spend with him? Can you find time to read his Word and talk with him? When you do, you can answer his question boldly and confidently, Here I am!

January 12

Evidence is all around us

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

—Genesis 9:13

One of the amazing things about living the Christian life is that we are able to see his goodness all around us, in simple things and even in things we even take for granted. Like a rainbow. When you accepted Christ as your Savior, filled with his Spirit, things you never saw before became visible to you. Why is it you can see them now, but you couldn’t then? They were always there. God was showing you evidence of his goodness, even though you couldn’t see it.

God has revealed himself to us through our spouses, our children, our students, our colleagues, the sun, the stars, the sky, the oceans, and even in rainbows. Before you became a believer, you may not have recognized God in those things. Now that you are, the grind of life and work can cause you to stop looking and stop seeing. When life gets like that for you, remember, God still shows us evidence of his goodness. Work hard not to take them for granted—they were designed and given so that you could see him at all times.

It is pretty natural to feel defeated by inconsiderate students, parents, and colleagues, but victory is won in remembering how much God loves you. And it is even possible that the hardships that we experience have lessons to teach us about our faith. Our faith grows stronger when it is tested, and when we have to persevere through difficult circumstances. Even inconsiderate students, parents, colleagues may be helping our faith grow stronger. Evidence of God is all around us, even in those things that may appear to hinder us.

January 13

Be encouraged

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

—Isaiah 12:2

The best teachers I ever had, and I had many, encouraged me. The best coaches I ever had did the same. My tennis coach, Harold Gibson, used to say to me, When you get to Wimbledon, I want you to send me tickets. I would laugh, and think, He’s dreaming. But isn’t that part of encouragement, dreaming of what is possible? My best bosses did the same thing. They focused on what was possible, even while they were aware of the past, present, or current circumstances.

I hope you are that kind of teacher for your students—continually dreaming of what is possible for them to become. It is easy to focus on what they are not, or not yet, but who will imagine what they may become? Sometimes they have a hard time doing this for themselves, and they need a significant adult who can and will. In Genesis 39, we read about Israel’s son, Joseph, being unjustly thrown into prison, and still, God had much bigger plans and dreams for him. So much so, that while Joseph was in prison, he found favor with the prison Warden, then, eventually with Pharaoh, and became the second most powerful man in Egypt. God was with him, encouraging him, even when he was a prisoner.

This is one of the divine things you do for your students—where they are, you are there with them, dreaming of what they may one day become. And that will encourage them to become what they are meant to become, no matter what their current circumstances are. Today, as you are reminded of the importance of your encouraging presence with your students, remember too that God is there with you, encouraging you, too.

Be encouraged! The Lord, the Lord himself is your strength and defense. It is not just the favored ancient ones who were honored by God’s presence. It is you and me, too. God has bigger plans and dreams for you, and wants you to be encouraged. That is why he has given you his Spirit to fill your heart. He is with you!

January 14

How do you finish the race?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

—2 Timothy 4:7

This sounds like such a sports metaphor, and indeed, could be. It is a metaphor for life, too. So how do you fight the good fight? How do you finish the race? You are doing worthy work; you are helping your students confront and overcome the obstacles in their way to learning; you are serving your community and our society. But what happens when you find the work drudgery, filled with too many administrative demands and unappreciative students, administrators, and parents? What happens when your students do not meet state standards and struggle to learn? What happens when no one recognizes the value of the work you do?

Try your best in everything you do—as a member of your family, as a member of your faculty, and as a child of God. There is no doubt that you will sometimes stumble and maybe even fall. You may fail and you may feel defeated, but pick yourself up and try again. Keep running! Even when it gets hard. Especially when it gets hard. And it will get hard. Jesus told us, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). As you run your race of life, keep working at it, persevere, and always keep your faith.

You keep your faith and continue to do the work, help your students, and perform this vital service for our nation. Keep your faith, whether you succeed or fail. Paul’s words of encouragement to Timothy should encourage us all to faithfully continue doing our work and pursuing our calling. No matter how difficult the fight sometimes seems, keep fighting. There is great reward for those who keep the faith through all trials and circumstances. John tells us that one day we will receive a crown of righteousness. And guess who is going to put it on our heads? Yes, Christ Jesus! How great is that! For finishing the race, for keeping the faith!

January 15

Cast your cares on him

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

—1 Peter 5:7

In our culture of self-determination, and our value upon mastery and self-sufficiency, the Christian recognizes his complete dependence on Christ. It is a very hard thing to do. We are so accustomed to taking care of our students, our families, our spouse, our parents, and our neighbors, that we end up thinking we are capable of quite a lot, and we come to expect it of ourselves all the time. And then the bottom drops out—something happens to turn our world upside down, and creates a desperation in us that reminds us that he wants us to cast our cares upon him. We can, and we should.

Why didn’t we before? Did real life, and our own capacity and competence cause us to forget him? Christ wants to be involved in the details of our lives. We don’t have to carry all of these burdens by ourselves. His yoke is light and he will help us. We should cast our cares on him at all times, not just when we sink into the pit, and need him to pull us out.

We should cast our cares on him at all times, not just when we are desperate. Certainly, when we have sunk into the pit and need him to pull us out, that is a perfect time to cast our cares on him. When we need his help, it may be easier to cry out to him. A quick prayer in the morning before school, Lord, I need you today, will remind you of your dependence upon him at all times, even when you are feeling quite self-sufficient.

January 16

Do not Stop

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

—Hebrews 12:3

We live in a pretty harsh world. A world of no excuses, just results. A world that is willing to look the other way at its own transgressions, but crucify others for theirs. It is a world, quite frankly, that is just mean at times. When the world appears that way to you, remember Christ’s own journey of faith—through rejection, through persecution, beatings, and crucifixion, and take heart.

He suffered these things because he loves us. He suffered these things so that we could be strengthened in our own journey of faith. Christ’s example will inspire you to persevere, and not stop trying. Hold on! Your students need you!

Think about Jesus’s example. He held on while people were doing hateful things to him. Let Christ’s example inspire you to persevere, and not grow weary and lose heart. Hold on! Consider him. He suffered evil because of love. Love, for you and me. Let his example, and his love for you, motivate you to hold on and not stop. We need you!

January 17

Call on the Lord

Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

—Isaiah 33:2

As believers, we can call on God to be gracious to us, to be our strength in time of distress, every morning. I think this is amazing! We don’t have to cower in fear, give in to despair, wallow in self-pity, or become bitter about those who offend or hurt us. We are not like the world. We have a helper, the great God of the universe, the holy and righteous God of all people and all time. We only need call on him.

No matter what you are facing this morning, call on him. Rely on him to give you the strength to help you through your distress. He came to live in you on your day of salvation. Allow him to live through you this day and forever after. He will be gracious to you! He will be your strength! He will be your salvation in times of distress!

January 18

A light for your path

Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path.

—Psalm 119:105

When I was a teenager, I always thought the Bible was hard to understand. It seemed like a bunch of old stories about old people, from long ago, that was supposed to teach us something about God, but rarely did. How about you? The Word was not a lamp for my feet. The prevailing sentiment that the King James Version was the best version didn’t help me, because I found it difficult to read, let alone extract meaning from it. It could have been lamp for my feet. It should have been a light on my path.

It wasn’t just the text that made it hard to understand. It was my human nature. I wasn’t ready to read it. I wasn’t motivated to read it. I wasn’t desperate to read it! Sometimes, desperation provides the motivation, and readiness, to turn to God, and his Word. The only times I turned to his Word is when I was desperate and looking for comfort. I found it there, especially in the Psalms.

When I was ready, and motivated, and desperate to read his Word, my wife gave me a Life Application Bible, with large print (which I needed), and this has made all the difference. Now, meaning is revealed. Historical and grammatical context is revealed. Christ is revealed. Now when I read, it feels like God wrote this for me. It is like his love letter to me! And I can’t stop reading, and studying, and marveling at his words of love and affirmation for us.

If your Bible is not lighting your path, go to your local Christian bookstore, and ask for help selecting one that will provide meaning for you. Hopefully with the right Bible in hand, your path through this life will become better illuminated!

January 19

He hears our cries

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

—Psalm 18:6

The Psalms have always been a place of comfort for me, ever since my Mom read Psalm 23 to me as a child. I never asked her why that was a favorite of hers, but from it, I learned these things about God: (1) he cares for us and protects us—from verse 1, The Lord is my shepherd. (2) I am complete in him, from verse 1, I lack nothing. (3) In him I find peace, from verses 2–3, He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

(4) He will guide us, from verse 3, He guides me along the right path. (5) In my darkest moments, he is with me, from verse 4, Even though I walk through the darkest valley…you are with me. And (6) he promises us eternal life, from verse 6, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

We have such a loving God! When we call to him, he hears our voice. When we cry to him for help, he hears our cries. When we cry for help, he always hears us and helps us. Do not be afraid to cry out to him when you need help. And don’t be afraid to praise him for who he is and what he has already done for you. He will hear your cries and your praises and he will be pleased that his loving child has remembered him. He is our shepherd. We lack nothing.

January 20

Rescue

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

—Psalm 18:16–17

David’s adversity is a repeating theme in the Psalms. Can you imagine, David, The King of Israel, having such problems? He was persecuted, hunted, betrayed, and created a whole lot of problems for himself because of his sins. I don’t know about you, but it is comforting to me to know that the same God who rescued King David from his powerful enemies, will reach down from on high and take hold of me too.

We may not be hunted by powerful enemies, but we do suffer when people are unkind to us. No matter what attacks, persecutions, and injuries we suffer at the hands of others, the Almighty God will reach down and take hold of us, and rescue us from those deep waters. The same power that lifted Jesus from the tomb, and breathed life back into him, is the power that lives within us. When we feel as if the weight of the world is on our shoulders, he is there to save us from drowning. He will breathe life back into us. He will rescue us.

January 21

The importance of teachers

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

—Psalm 25:4

Many of you became teachers because you had a parent who was a teacher. Others had special teachers who inspired them to become teachers. Why do teachers hold such special places in our lives? Because they are important! Teachers literally change the lives of the children they teach.

Dr. Lorraine Monroe, Founder of the Frederick Douglas Academy in Harlem, called teaching, holy work! Mother Teresa, Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, said, I am a little pencil, in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world. You are sending a love letter to the world, and doing God’s work, by teaching children. I can think of nothing more important than that.

No one, other than their family members, cares about your students like you do. You are their biggest fans and greatest advocates. And there is no greater reflection on you than when they are successful. And this is why you must challenge them, encourage them, and yes, inspire them to work harder and perform better. It may be your capacity to believe the best about them that encourages them to stretch, and grow and think more and more and more.

January 22

The correlary of fear and trust

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

—Psalm 56:3

The life of a teacher is a continual challenge to forge ahead while experiencing trials and uncertainty. We are challenged by our students, their parents, our administration, and our social culture of accountability. We must produce results, or we are declared to have little value. We are not excused because our students cannot read, have few good role models at home, are not loved, sometimes mistreated, are increasingly poor, and growing up in a culture of distraction that values things of little significance. It can be paralyzing, but you must forge ahead anyway.

You will experience trials throughout your career. Some of these trials will be the result of your students’ behavior, some will result from colleagues’ behavior, and sometimes it will be by your own doing. Regardless of the reason it happens, go to God in prayer and trust his Word. Some people turn to God with the hope of escaping troubles, but God doesn’t promise that. Instead, he will give you the power to endure, and grow, through your trials. Your life as a believer; your relationship with Jesus, involves obedience despite hardships and difficulties.

Trust God with your fears, your anxieties, your feeling of uncertainty, and inadequacy. Your students need you. Their parents need you. Your administrators need you. Our society needs you, now more than ever. Forge ahead, and when you feel anxious or uncertain, remember that God is trustworthy. Go to him in prayer and he will walk with you. You do holy work! And God knows it—it is the work he gave you to do.

January 23

Change

But as