Next Wednesday marks the end of our first nine week grading period. I can’t believe we’re already about one quarter of the way through this school year.
My job is so much more difficult than I ever imagined. My students have a lot of really serious problems, and I don’t feel equipped to handle any of it. Just when I think we’ve hit rock bottom and it can’t get any worse, it does. I’m trying really hard to not become completely discouraged…to not complain about the way things are right now. I don’t like my job right now.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially because I was so thoroughly convinced that this is where God was calling me. I don’t feel like I’m making a difference here at all. I got some news yesterday about some upcoming staff changes that made me feel more alone in this battle than ever.
I need to spend less time worrying and complaining and more time on my knees. I want the confidence that I had when I moved here three months ago.
The following verses were shared with me on Sunday, and they have offered such comfort.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 1:3-4)
“In this your greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – thing about such things.” (Philippians 4:4-8)
This Cloudy Glass 