Originally posted 7/31/20

Today we started our 9th year of homeschooling. I love the beginning of the year because everyone is fresh and excited to learn new things. Well, everyone except my son. He would rather spend his days riding bikes, playing video games, or just about anything else. Thankfully he quickly gets reaccustomed to doing school in the mornings. 

While our school year has started out normal for us, I know that for many of you school starting will be anything but normal. You and your kids may be nervous to be back in person. You may even be doing school virtually again and you don’t really know how that’s going to work out. Perhaps you are starting to homeschool for the first time ever, something you never in a million years thought you would be doing. Whatever school looks like for you this year, know that you are not alone. Not only are there hundreds of parents just like you, but more importantly God is with you. Remember God tells us that he will never leave us or forsake us. (See Hebrews 13:5)

It doesn’t even matter if things in the world get better or worse. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, then he promises to give us everything we ever need. In Matthew 7, Jesus reminds us that he makes sure that the grass is clothed and the birds are fed. You my dear, sweet, friend are so much more valuable than the grass or birds. Jesus didn’t come to earth to die for the grass or the birds, but he did come to die for you. As far as Jesus is concerned, your life is worth all the blood loss, the torture, and the embarrassment he endured. I believe he was thinking about you and how awesome it is to hang out with you. Jesus knew that his suffering was for a purpose, and you were that purpose. 

It is the same with the suffering we endure here on earth. I know that everything I have ever suffered and everything I will ever suffer will serve a purpose. I can look back and see how the most difficult times in my life taught me the most valuable lessons. Those lessons led me to choices that I am still reaping the benefits from. Whether it was loss of a job, loss of a friendship, or loss of life as I had always known it, they all have served to make me into the woman I am today. I can honestly say that I would not be here right now, writing this blog, if I had not gone through some suffering. I also know that you have had suffering in your life, and because you are a daughter of God, that suffering will serve a purpose too. (See Romans 8:28)

Do you feel that your suffering is too much for you to handle? Good! That means your only choice is to surrender it to God and allow him to take your burden. When he takes our burdens, he turns them around to be something great. Matthew 11:28 says  (‭ESV), “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” It’s when we stop fighting our battles ourselves, that we get to have the rest only Jesus can give. 

You feel anxious? You feel hopeless? Has discouragement gotten the best of you? Those feelings are not from God; they come from our enemy. We have the power to stop listening to the lies from the enemy and listen to the truth that only comes from God. Before Jesus went to the cross, he told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John‬ ‭14:27‬ (‭ESV) God gives us peace in the struggles; Satan gives us worry and anxiety. The best way I have found to combat lies is to repeat truth to myself. When I start to feel anxious, I first stop and pray. Then I find a Bible verse and repeat it over and over and over. I keep speaking the truth to myself until I believe it. The feelings might not leave immediately, but false feelings can’t stay where truth is being believed. 

No matter how you are feeling about this upcoming school year, know that Jesus is with you. Look to him for answers to these difficult questions. Remember to, “…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ (‭ESV‬‬) When we keep our focus on Jesus, he will give us his peace to face any struggle. He will also give us his strength and courage to face any battle that may come our way. 

I love you dear sister, and I am praying for you. I am praying that God’s peace will fill your heart and mind. I am praying that God will clearly show you the right choices for each of your children. He has a special plan for each of them, so trust him that he knows what is best. After all, he loves them so much more than you do! And he loves you more than you can ever grasp. Trust him, talk to him, and know that you can depend on him for everything, even the small stuff!