Every so often I encounter a week that is a teacher’s equivalent of the Perfect Storm. Papers from every class (you’d think after all the years of teaching, I would have figured out how to avoid this), individual student conferences, meetings and appointments after school, plus a host of personal responsibilities.
This past week was one of those weeks. I could tell it was one for my students as well as they began the week with that glazed look that accompanies shock and then by the end of the week, they just looked weary.
However, there was no avoiding what was coming, and so all we could do was buckle down, dig in, and “get ‘er done.” Surprisingly, as usual, the tasks were completed, a little at a time. For me, it helped to pull out just fifteen papers and twenty sets of note cards a day to grade and not look at the piles still waiting. For my students, it was focusing on each step in the process rather than the entire project itself. By only focusing on the small tasks to complete, the larger jobs were completed by the end of the week.
God obviously knew our limitations when He told us in a multitude of different ways not to look ahead to tomorrow, but only focus on today. (Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things . . . .) In His infinite wisdom he only lets us see so much at a time. (Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet/ And light to my path. Notice not a huge searchlight lighting up the entire road.)
God also knows that the weight of responsibilities will weigh heavy on us, and He encourages us to let Him shoulder the load. (1 Peter 5:7 . . . casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.; Ps. 29:11 The Lord will give strength to His people/ The Lord will bless His people with peace. Is. 41:13 “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not; I will help you.’”)
Finally, the week does end, the load is lightened, and there is time to be refreshed. (Ps. 3:5 I lay down and slept;/ I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. Ps. 23:2-3 He leads me beside the still waters./ He restores my soul.)
And my all time favorite verse of comfort: Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I need to remember that God is God in the midst of the storm . . . even the Perfect Storm.
This past week was one of those weeks. I could tell it was one for my students as well as they began the week with that glazed look that accompanies shock and then by the end of the week, they just looked weary.
However, there was no avoiding what was coming, and so all we could do was buckle down, dig in, and “get ‘er done.” Surprisingly, as usual, the tasks were completed, a little at a time. For me, it helped to pull out just fifteen papers and twenty sets of note cards a day to grade and not look at the piles still waiting. For my students, it was focusing on each step in the process rather than the entire project itself. By only focusing on the small tasks to complete, the larger jobs were completed by the end of the week.
God obviously knew our limitations when He told us in a multitude of different ways not to look ahead to tomorrow, but only focus on today. (Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things . . . .) In His infinite wisdom he only lets us see so much at a time. (Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet/ And light to my path. Notice not a huge searchlight lighting up the entire road.)
God also knows that the weight of responsibilities will weigh heavy on us, and He encourages us to let Him shoulder the load. (1 Peter 5:7 . . . casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.; Ps. 29:11 The Lord will give strength to His people/ The Lord will bless His people with peace. Is. 41:13 “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not; I will help you.’”)
Finally, the week does end, the load is lightened, and there is time to be refreshed. (Ps. 3:5 I lay down and slept;/ I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. Ps. 23:2-3 He leads me beside the still waters./ He restores my soul.)
And my all time favorite verse of comfort: Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I need to remember that God is God in the midst of the storm . . . even the Perfect Storm.
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