Sometimes I forget what I know.
Last week, after the final school awards program, I joined my daughter in her classroom to collect her supplies and snap a few farewell photos. First grade has been a fantastic experience, thanks to a loving and gifted teacher.
Since preschool, veteran parents told us this year would be special. Mrs. H is amazing, they said. She’s so laid back and great with the kids. She has boundless patience and creativity. The students adore her. So of course we eagerly anticipated a school year filled with blessings, and we were not disappointed.
Life is so much easier when we know what to expect, eh?
But next year. Ugh. Two weeks ago our school bulletin announced the second grade teacher is moving to a different role, so my daughter’s upcoming shepherd will be a new hire. An unknown.
Immediately the list of frets rolled through my mind.
Will she be sensitive to my child’s needs?
Will she load us down with homework?
Will she call me when my child has a stomachache?
Can I trust her?
I lingered in the classroom chatting with the grandma of another first-grader. “I hope next year is a good experience for the kids. I guess we’ll find out, huh?”
“Oh, it will be.” She nodded. “I have faith.”
“You think so?” I crinkled my eyebrows.
“Of course I do.” She looked at me straight on. “Just have faith.”
Hmmm.
Just have faith.
Well, duh!
Yeah, have faith. Helloooo! Isn’t that the definition of my life as a Christian? I live by faith, not by sight! Yet still, after all I’ve learned, time and again I default to worry.
Busted.
Have you heard the popular maxim, “Fear is the opposite of faith”?
The first time I read that, it crushed me. Because the concept implies if you have fear, then you must not have faith. Which I then translated to, if I’m afraid, then I must not be a Christian.
You know what the Bible says about that?
Hogwash.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 8:38–39, NLT, emphasis added).
Isn’t that good news? Fear does not erase our faith.
But it does waste it.
When we fret, we choose to rely on ourselves instead of God. And that’s a really dumb choice. God knows more, cares more, and sees so much more than we ever could. One of the benefits of a personal relationship with God is the invitation he gives us to tap into his sovereignty. Believe it. Trust it.
And we will not be disappointed.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them,” (Romans 8:28, NLT).
Imagine if we approached every situation with total confidence that it would turn out okay. Not just okay, but good. How would that change our outlook? Our blood pressure? Our sanity?
I left that classroom feeling humbled and relieved—filled with a reclaimed sense of peace that God has everything under control. And even if the second grade teacher is horrible (which is highly unlikely), God will use that experience, too, somehow for our good.
We can’t go wrong with God.
Duh.
So let’s remember who we are—people of faith—and start living like we mean it. Amen?
Blessings,
Becky
I’m more of a realist than an optimist (my husband would probably call it pessimist! haha), so I would have been jumping to worse case scenario right there with ya. 🙂
I think sometimes faith means the belief that it will all work out as God & nature intend – not necessarily that every situation will work out to our benefit in the present.
Much love, lady! And a happy second grade year to your daughter!
Lots of love back at you, Erica! Happy summer!
Love this, Becky! I’m going to find a way to link back to it in the post I’m writing.
Oh, thank you so much, Kendra! That blesses me!
my daughter starts school for the first time this year and we found out that the teacher she might have had, who we love, will be going off on mat leave. We are nearvous because a new, unknown, will be coming in. But I have faith!! I’m afraid, but I have faith.
Aw shucks! You convicted me by this post, Becky. Just recently I went with my “baby” who’s leaving for college hours away in Aug to enroll for his classes on campus. He (we) also got to meet his roommate who seemed to be something of, how shall I say this? … “A big disappointment” (to me, at least). Now I worry that he won’t connect with his roommate and will hate being away at college. He’s very introverted, so this has been something of a worry for me even before the “roommate debaucle.” Oh, how we mothers struggle to let our baby birds fly and sometimes fall from the nest. Ugh! Well, your words have encouraged me to trust, yet again, the Lord! Duuuhhhh! Why didn’t I think of that! Hugs to you, sister!
Just have faith. It sounds so simple but yet I have the hardest time with it sometimes. I let worry take over.
So true. And so sorry you go through these feelings with the change in teacher. Having faith things will be ok is very powerful. Excellent choice you made.
It’s so hard to trust in God with the ‘unknown’ – especially when it comes to our children!!! I am getting better at doing that- I remind myself constantly that His Plan is never thwarted and what happens in our lives, and our children’s lives is ultimately His to have.
There is such a peace in knowing that our paths are already created, and ruled by our Heavenly Father. Psalm 139 is my favorite reminder of just how detailed our God’s plan truly is for us.
Worry is something so many women do- including myself! BUT- anxiety does reveal that we may not be trusting God with all our heart. Been there countless times- and our loving Father always shows me the way… and His grace continues to pour out in every turn.
History has a way of strengthening our faith. I’m trusting more- as I look back and see His Presence in all the “unknown” that unfolded in my life.
He’s got this.
Faith tells us that.