In the Midst of It All

Collin Haddock

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I was not the best student in grade school. I probably caused more than my fair share of migraines for educators when I was a high schooler. I was (am) easily distracted, more concerned with pretending to work and what game system I could sneak in my backpack during class. It wasn’t until college that I really appreciated teachers. In this COVID-19 marred world, I really, really, really appreciate teachers-both grade school and college. This is an era of confusion, of doubt, of worry, of “am I getting this right?” Teaching is a deep passion, one that I believe is God sparked and designed. In a time of chaos, what can Christians do for our teachers?

We can pray. We can encourage. We can act.

1. We can pray.
   There is a phrase I often repeat to others at Nesbit when I urge prayer. “Prayer is vital.” It’s a necessity. In times like these, we’re often called to pray, but do not make prayer seem small. It is not a small, minor thing. Prayer is a mighty sword that we have at our disposal. We are given the incredible privilege of being able to go to the Father and making our requests known. John Calvin once wrote on prayer: “By prayer and supplication we pour out our desires before God, asking as well those things which tend to promote his glory and display his name, as the benefits which contribute to our advantage. By thanksgiving we duly celebrate his kindnesses toward us, ascribing to his liberality every blessing which enters into our lot.” Pray for your teacher friends. Pray for your teacher spouse. Pray for your teacher parents. Going directly to the sovereign Lord and bringing your requests is a mighty weapon.

2. We can encourage.

   Solomon wrote on the power of a kind word in Proverbs 16:24, quipping-“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Echoing this, Paul writes in his first epistle to the Thessalonian church “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1st Thessalonians 5:11.) The Bible tells us as believers that we need to be encouraging people, but not just encouraging people. We are to be encouraging people who have great and grace-bound reasons to be encouraged. Christian, be loving and encouraging. Christian teacher, be encouraged by who Christ is, despite the swirling wind and crashing storms of the current world outside. He is there and working in the midst of the situation for His glory.

3. We can act.

There’s an old VBS that had a tag line that has stuck with me: “let your actions match your passions.” If we pray, if we encourage, we can act. Prayer is an act, encouragement is an act, but so is sending a teacher a card, so is buying school supplies, so is praying for a teacher and the class by name. Act. Don’t just say you’re going to act. Go. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a frankly confusing and scary times. Paul, writing to the Romans, tells the recipients: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” (Romans 15:1-2.) Christians cannot simply sit on our hands, especially not in these times. James, Jesus’s own brother, wrote in his pastoral letter that we should be “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22a.) Church, we have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ, the light-bearers a bleak world. In the midst of arguing and chaos and confusion, be acting people who encourage others. The door is open. We act not because we earn merit points, but we act because Christ acted in us and resurrected us when we were still sinners.

Teachers-you are loved. You are important, and your job is important. (If you’re a homeschool parent, I’m talking to you, too.) Pray for your people, your teaching friends, your principal, your counselors, your coaches, your superintendent and everyone in between. You, teacher who follows Christ, are in a vital mission field-whether it’s in the class room, outside, online, or in the home. Be a light in a dark world. Be a light for your friends who are not in the Kingdom. I am praying for you, and I’m thankful for you. If it wasn’t for teachers who put up with a kid who could not do math, who dealt with bad grades, ADHD, and anxiety, I would not be where I am now. God worked through these men and women. God will use you in this odd time for His glory. These are confusing and scary times—-but God is in control and He will use this for His glory.

We at Nesbit love you. We are praying for you as you go into the midst of things.

Church-love your teachers. Pray for your teachers. Encourage your teachers. Act on that love for your teachers.

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All Scripture referenced are from the English Standard Version.

In the Midst of It All

Love your teachers.