Do not be afraid, land of Judah, be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things! Joel 2:21, NIV

Fear can be a powerful force. And throughout the years, although not intentionally, I have given into fear more than I would like to admit. It’s not always bad. In fact, it can save lives in extreme situations. But the truth is, most of the time, whether it is physical health, issues in the classroom, or personal frustrations, the fear that creeps in comes in the form of lies.

I am not good enough. God is not big enough. I need to take control. What else can I do to fix this? The list goes on and on.

Honest confession, I have allowed too many of my waking hours to be consumed by these thoughts throughout the years, especially within my classroom.

As I was reading this verse, something occurred to me: We cannot rid our minds of fear through our own strength. But God can.

In this verse, He says two things:

1. Be glad and rejoice. This doesn’t mean we live in total denial of our circumstances. In fact, quite the opposite. Being glad and rejoicing comes from the deep knowledge that He is truly in control, and I am not. Gratitude is a positive response to experiencing God’s goodness and grace in other spaces in our lives. Gratitude is remembering who God is and what He has done.

2. Surely the Lord has done great things. We need to remember what God has done.  Writing it down or journaling is one of the best ways to do this. It is easy to forget even minutes later how very faithful He has been. When things in the classroom or our own personal lives look like chaos, remembering what God has done takes us back to the truth of who He is, what He has done, and what He will continue to do.

So, my friend, I encourage you as you face fears of many kinds in the classroom and beyond, to return to this verse. Continue to remember to rejoice and be glad. Continue to remember that the Lord has done great things in, through, and for you. As you finish reading today, I encourage you to sit with God and ask Him what fears you have in your heart. Allow Him to speak the truth over these fears. And, as He shows you, begin to practice, rejoicing, being glad, and remembering what the Lord has done.

Jesus, teach us to remember and record in our classrooms and personal lives the great things that You have done. Help us to hold fast to these truths, and help us to rejoice and be glad in who You are. Give us hearts that recognize when fear is creeping into our lives and teach us to live in the freedom of rejoicing in You. Amen.

Copyright Rebekah Hutchinson.

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