This time of year as a teacher is a stressful time of year.

After panning over my mid-term results and some other student data I've become discouraged and wondered if what I'm doing day in and day out in my classroom is even worth it! I have a feeling, after speaking with a couple of you, that I'm not the only one feeling pressured, overwhelmed, tired and distraught over the job of teaching.

I'm a believer in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. So, on Thursday morning I was praying to my Heavenly Father and telling him exactly how I felt about my job, my worries over my students needs, and was pretty much screaming for HELP!

Felt the need to go to Isaiah and this is what I believe God gave me!

Isaiah 41:10

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

Isaiah 49:4

"But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord's hand: I will trust God for my reward."

In each moment of my day at school I wonder if what I'm doing is making a difference. All I know to do from this point is keep doing what I believe is going to benefit my students and trust God for my reward. We cannot please everybody but we've already pleased the ONE that is the most important and that is God. What is so cool about God to me is that he loves and accepts me already and I don't have to prove anything to Him!

I know that we are all rushed around in the mornings to get to school and get our plans ready for the day, if we could all just take a moment and say a prayer for our students, each other and ourselves I believe that God will bless our efforts, us, and our students!

Here's an idea: partner with a teacher that works beside you and say a quick 30 second to 1 minute prayer each morning.

It's nice to know that God's got my back and it's a nice reminder that He is in control!

Living Loved and Freely,

Elizabeth