“Do not be terrified or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9, AMP
I was six months pregnant with my third child, crouched on my knees under the desk. It was now dark outside at 6:30 pm. I wondered how much longer we might be there.
Thirty-one freshmen students sat on the floor under the desks around me. We’d been in the computer room when the lockdown was announced. Back in these days before every student had a device, we booked a time slot to use the desktop computers in the school’s central computer lab for a few days to work on special assignments.
When the alarm sounded, we had all assumed this was another drill…until the clock kept ticking and there was nothing…no announcement, no words, no sound. Just silence and waiting. I had been praying…oh boy, had I been praying during this time. My students were quiet, too. The thing that finally broke the silence was one girl breaking down into tears and crying, “I don’t want to die, I’m so scared…”
I comforted her as I gently rubbed her back. I remember thinking in that moment about the peace that surpasses understanding, and what a visible difference it made right then and there.
I didn’t want to die, either. But I wasn’t terrified. Instead, I focused on silently praying for this girl and her fear, that God would be her comforter in this moment, even if she didn’t know Him.
Ultimately, this was a 3-hour lockdown that got us all home at about 7 pm that night. But thankfully, we got home. The cause for alarm turned out to be a threat that needed to be investigated but was never of imminent danger to anyone on campus.
An unfortunate reality of this fallen world is that we will be in dangerous situations sometimes, even while at school. But in those times, no matter the circumstance, remember that God, the Creator of the Universe, has promised to be with you wherever you go. Stand firm on that promise and do not be terrified.
Jesus, thank You for Your promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Thank You for being our comforter in times of need, and for the gift of peace that makes no sense to the world. Please help us to trust more in You each day, and to be a beacon of light and purveyor of Your comfort and love to those around us. In Your name, we pray, Amen.
Copyright Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi.
Rhapsody is a Christian Educators member and high school English teacher from North Carolina. She is passionate about helping overwhelmed teachers reclaim their time and peace of mind through support, encouragement, and intentional strategies. You can connect with her at tightropeteaching.com.
