I don’t know about you, teacher friend, but I have felt completely overwhelmed at my job lately.  Last week was probably the worst one on record as far as my emotional state and my feelings of ineptness go– I’ve even developed psoriasis!    Oh Brother!! And I’m not even exactly sure why.  I guess it’s because I feel like I’m in an impossible situation: 92 students– each with a very specific set of needs, new technology, laws made by people who seem to have no understanding of the range of students found in a public school classroom, five of my own personal children who need love and attention, and only 24 hours in a day.

But as I was struggling and stressing last week, God reminded me of the verse, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.”  On Friday morning, when I woke up again next to tears but still hearing that verse, I looked it up and found the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14.)   The Nation of Israel was hopelessly trapped between the Red Sea and a Sea of Egyptian soldiers and their chariots.

There were three things that caught my attention from the story.  First, I noticed that the Israelites were terrified.  The Message version says, “They were totally afraid and cried out in terror.”  That’s me- enter psoriasis.

The second thing I noticed was that the Israelites began to whine and complain, “Weren’t there enough graves in Egypt?”  Again- ugh– I’ve caught myself complaining WAY MORE than I ever have before.

The third thing I noticed about the story was that the Israelites were actually already past the Red Sea, but God told them to “turn back” and camp right between a fort town named Migdol and the Red Sea.  God basically placed the Israelites in this impossible situation so He could show His power.  

And that’s where I feel I am– in an impossible situation, whining and complaining, and quite frankly terrified.  I have a deep passion for each of my students to grow and be successful, but I’m not sure how it’s going to happen.  I imagine some of you might feel like you are in the exact same situation.  But God is saying, “I will fight for you, you need only be still.”  (The Message Version actually says, “God will fight the battle for you.  And you?  You keep your mouths shut!”)

So I am going forward this year knowing that God is fighting for me and for my students.   I have made the decision to stop complaining and to recognize that I shouldn’t be afraid.  The same God who took more than 600,000 Israelites across a dry sea bed can certainly handle taking my 92 students and me through a year of state standards and discipline issues.

I’m choosing to live in the truth that “The Lord will fight for me, I need only be still.”

How about you?

Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today this year. (Exodus 14:13)