AN INVITATION
February 01, 2023

Prayer: Dear Jesus, You are our constant friend and companion. Your promise to be with us through the good times and bad gets us through the uncertainty of each day and leads us through the messy and beautiful journey we call teaching. Thank You for always being here. Amen

Scripture: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 NIV

I sat at my desk at the beginning of the day with tears running down my cheeks. It had been a rough morning at home, and now I had a full day ahead of me. There was guilt over yelling at my husband as I left for the day. I was teaching a challenging group of students. After school there was a difficult parent conversation and a meeting to address the learning needs of a student. How could I be the teacher that my students deserved when I was carrying all this worry and strife? In that moment of desperation I looked at the picture of a dear friend. She was one of those friends who is always pointing you to Jesus and his promises. I took a moment to look up and pray. I gave my worries to Jesus and invited Him to be a part of my day.

Going through rivers of difficulty can make us feel like we are drowning or force us to grow stronger. If we go on our own strength it will be like swimming upstream. But if we invite the Lord to go with us, he will protect us and give us what we need to get through. We will not just survive, but thrive.

Copyright Heather Kohnen.

Heather, formerly an elementary teacher in Minnesota, now serves as the director of the AWAKE project for Christian Educators.

To connect with Heather, email hkohnen@christianeducators.org.