God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life. Job 33:28, NIV

Our call as educators is to help students ascend to the hope and future God has planned for them. Some of the students we serve, however, have peers, siblings, parents, media idols, and others who have dug pits for them into which they have fallen. Many youth have been spiritually, emotionally, and physically wounded and dwell continually in these invisible pits. For these abused, neglected, and abandoned children, these pits can be quite deep and quite dark. Some of the wounded in our classrooms are busily digging their own pits even deeper, tunneling and setting traps and snares for others. Living in these pits is their norm. These students exhibit destructive behaviors toward themselves and others. 

As an educator, you can be part of God’s rescue team for these students if you allow Jesus to lead you in your classroom. He came to set captives free, and He dwells in you. As you follow Jesus’ teachings to forgive, return evil with good, go the extra mile, pray, agree in prayer with other teachers, continually thank and praise, encourage always, correct in love, and share the fruit of the Spirit, you are creating knots in a rope ladder that God can lower down to students in these pits and tunnels. Each of your acts of obedience represents another knot for your students to grip, hold onto, and experience the life and love of Jesus, which can set them free. 

However, it is important to remember that Jesus Himself could not save every person. Many rejected Him, as many of your wounded students may reject you and the love of Christ you offer them. Don’t take this as a personal failure or believe it is a result of your lack of faith or obedience. Your job is to obey Christ. The results are in His hands. 

Lord, give me a heart for and the skills necessary to serve and bring to Your light the students who live in the greatest darkness and are the furthest from You. Amen.

Copyright Don Clark.

Don is a retired elementary special education teacher. He recently retired from his role as the Houston area director for Christian Educators.