Our Prayer Wall is showing the indecision about school this year. Here are some examples from school staff and parents alike:

Our family is struggling about what to do with my kids for school. I want them to go back, but I am afraid of the risk. My spouse and I have different opinions. While I feel that in-school learning is best for my kids, I have the privilege of staying home and being able to teach them, but I don’t want to fail them as a mother while trying to be their teacher at the same time. All the “what if’s” weigh on my mind. Nothing feels right. I am looking for the strength and clarity to make the right decision for our family. My anxiety level is at an all-time high. I am so stressed out.
I work at a school. We are a high-risk group and can take it home to our own families. I’m worried. I would love for prayers of good will and strength of mind/body/spirit. I ask for peace from God so that we may know He is with us and we can do all things in Him. This prayer is not just for our team, but for every school district out there. Thank you so much.

Back to school is usually a time of celebration for parents, right? It’s our vacation time! Except in this crazy year, we’ve got a pandemic stalking us everywhere we go!

It’s usually the kids who stress about tests, but this year it’s we parents who have the hugest test ever! It includes questions like:

“Should I send my child to school or not?”
“Which is worse, my child getting behind in learning or my child getting sick?”
“How can we all be safe?”

We feel unprepared for this test.

We’ve lost sleep; we’ve gained worry and stress. We have COVID fatigue. Our kids do, too.

Where is faith in all of these uncontrollable things? Will it help?

When you feel overwhelmed and things seem uncontrollable, remind yourself that God has already passed this test. He gave us answers that will help rest in His promises, and give us peace in the midst of life’s challenges.

1. Who is God? (Answer: God Is Greater)

To whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal? asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? (Isaiah 40:25-26a)

The first thing God reveals about Himself in the Bible is that He is our Creator. Not just of small stuff, but of the whole universe! What? God is bigger than this pandemic? Yup, that’s an absolute.

God cannot be compared to anything else. That’s good to know, because I think a lot of us have felt “sucker-punched” by this haunting pandemic.

Remember when your teacher used to write assignments on the chalkboard? As a student, you had better get it down. Well, the Heavens are God’s chalkboard. Look there. Sun and clouds in the day, stars and moon in the night.

In fact, the night sky can be unusually beautiful. And night time is usually when our worry and stress get large. But God is greater.

When your problems feel too big to face, read Psalm 19 and focus on the vast power and majesty of God.

2. Does God care? (Answer: God’s Got You)

He brings [the stars] out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of His great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. (Isaiah 40:26)

God is not only the Creator of the universe! God gets specific, and every parent really needs to know this.

God names the stars.

Why? Sure, He can keep track of them without names. But He has named the stars to prove a point. He has named every one of the 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars. Don’t count! That’s a “1” with 24 zeros after it … 1 Septillion.

There are less than 8 Billion people in the world. All with names too.

And God knows every person.

We love our names. God does too. God knows you personally. God cares about you. Your family too!

The 1 Septillion stars are in His control. You are in His control. God has appointed each star its orbit and its galaxy. He knows your address too. And He knows what’s going on in your heart and your mind. Your needs are not lost to Him – not a single one is missing!

Isn’t it comforting to know that God’s got you?

Read Psalm 23 when God feels distant, and be reminded of his tender loving care for you.

3. What About the Future? (Answer: God Can Handle It)

How can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?… Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. (Isaiah 40:28)

This coronavirus is a moving target. Good luck trying to figure everything out. Our minds and our plans are constantly in flux.

But God understands it all. Deeply.
all the minutia
all the details.
He knows and understands it all!

That’s why we pray, isn’t it? We can trust Him. He gives us His wisdom. He gives us His peace. He shows us the way.

Read Psalm 8 when the future seems uncertain, and focus on God’s plans for you.

4. What About Me? (Answer: God Strengthens You)

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Faith scores! Faith fights fatigue. With God, you can walk, run, soar! Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? But with God, nothing is impossible.

Have you ever envied birds like eagles because they get to see a view we do not? Trusting in God expands your view.

Yes, COVID-19 has changed so much in our lives. Some have lost jobs. Others have lost loved ones. It can bring fear.

But faith fights our fears because we know that our God is committed to those who have placed their faith in Him.

Even in the questions and the pain and the hardship, God will carry you through.

Feeling too exhausted to keep fighting? Turn to Psalm 18 and be inspired by God’s power.

5. What’s Next? (Answer: Share This with My Family)

Now, just as your kids ask you for help with their homework, will you ask them to join you in learning these 5 great promises of God together?

God goes to school. God goes to work. God lives with you. God is everywhere you are.

One last booster shot for your faith. Read Psalm 139.

Now, treat yourselves to ice cream because you got a perfect score and a blessed home. And while you’re licking away, listen to one of my favorite songs: Peace Be Still.

Share your prayer requests on our Prayer Wall, and have a peace-filled school year, wherever that is.

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