And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8, NKJV

As we were driving out to our campground this past weekend, I witnessed a powerful visual metaphor… 

A Subaru built to handle the rough roads leading to our campground had slowed to a crawl. The driver seemed determined to avoid every pothole, seemingly forgetting that the vehicle was designed for exactly this kind of terrain. Their hesitation became challenging—and even a little dangerous—for the cars behind them. The unexpected slowdowns created a ripple effect, forcing other drivers to brake, swerve, or veer toward the edge of the road.

This driver had everything they needed to navigate the “challenging road,” but because they did not trust what they had been given, they were causing problems around them. 

For me, this scene captured the tension that exists between having the right equipment and actually trusting it.

As educators, when we operate out of fear instead of trust, we don’t just limit our own momentum—we create friction, unexpected stops, and anxiety for those around us. In a school setting, students, parents, and colleagues often “catch” the anxiety of a teacher who is constantly bracing for the next “pothole” rather than trusting the terrain they were built—and called—to navigate.

It made me wonder, How often do I do this with the things God has equipped me for? How often do I try to “slow down” or avoid the “potholes” when God has given me everything I need to navigate them easily? How often does my fear of my own abilities get in the way of navigating the road before me smoothly and maybe even affect others along the way?

I am learning that trusting God’s sufficiency isn’t just for the big, smooth highway moments; it’s baked into the rough patches. The ability to handle chaos with calm authority comes from knowing that you are already equipped by God.

The truth is that God desires for us to abound in EVERY good work. He has given us the equipment we need, and it is sufficient for the paths He lays before us. 

Jesus, help us in our classrooms and as we walk into our schools to know and see how You have given us all sufficiency in all things at all times. That in each step we take throughout our teaching days, we would walk in confidence in every good work You have laid before us. Amen.

Copyright Rebekah Hutchinson.

Rebekah is a Christian Educators member and a second-grade teacher in Vancouver, Washington.