Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. Acts 9:17-18, NIV

While driving in the car several months ago, a song came on the radio, and its lyrics struck a chord deep within my soul:

“Hallelujah, thank You, Jesus,
For your patience with me.
For I was blinded,
But now I’m seeing
And, Lord, I’m looking at You.

Now, there’s nothing left to do but give You praise…
Jesus, only You get all my praise…”

Tears streamed down my face as I sat there, startled by the realization of what God had done for me. He had removed the scales from my eyes. Scales I didn’t even realize had been there.

As a Christian teacher, I am no stranger to the negativity and darkness that sometimes surrounds our schools. It seems like we face adversarial administration, sardonic students, contemptuous coworkers, and perfidious parents all at once. It’s overwhelming. These challenges became the scales on my own eyes, clouding my vision and making me lose sight of Jesus and His calling for me as an educator.

Just like Saul, the zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians, I thought I was doing everything right. I led First Priority, loved my students, read my teacher devotionals, and diligently followed what I believed were the markers of a “Christian educator.” But over time, those actions became mere routines, lacking a genuine connection to God’s purpose for my life.

But then I reached a breaking point in my teaching career. A change in grade level and subject area, a shift away from a supportive team, and a deviation from a subject I loved all felt like an overwhelming burden. These were the scales that blinded me, and I felt lost, unable to fulfill God’s vision for my life. How could I when my own vision was so clouded?

But God, in His loving and faithful ways, sent His Ananias figures into my life. They came in the form of a supportive husband who prayed for me, godly coworkers, support from the ministry of Christian Educators Daily Devotionals, and most unexpectedly, three classroom sets of 6th graders who hungered for Jesus in a public school. These Ananias figures began to remove the scales from my eyes, and through them, I was able to see Jesus more clearly than ever before. As the Lord used them, my own eyes were opened once again to His calling for me as a teacher.

In chapter 9 of Acts, Ananias played a pivotal role in Saul’s transformation. God used him to remove the scales from Saul’s eyes, leading him to regain his sight and become an influential figure in Christianity. Similarly, God sends people into our lives to help remove the scales from our eyes, so we can see Jesus and His purpose for us with greater clarity.

Dear fellow teachers, let’s allow God to be the focus of our hearts and classrooms. We must seek His guidance and prayerfully invite those Ananias figures into our lives—godly friends, mentors, and students who will help us see Jesus and His calling more clearly. This is your “teacher tribe!” Together, let’s embrace the transformation, let the scales fall away, and rediscover the joy of teaching in alignment with God’s purpose.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your patience with me. Please help me to see clearly and remove the scales from my eyes. Lead me to those who can help me discern Your calling and purpose for me as a teacher. Use me to guide my students to see You more clearly, just as You have used them to help me see You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Copyright Morgan Preston.

Morgan is a former middle school language arts and social studies teacher. She is currently Christian Educators’ Marketing and Communications Coordinator and serves her middle school students and teachers through First Priority.