May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10, NLT

“I don’t like chaos.”

That was one of the first things I told my students as I laid out my classroom expectations at the beginning of the school year. Their eyes widened slightly before they responded with tentative smiles. Then, together, we began exploring the ancient world, uncovering stories of past civilizations and the lessons they still have to teach us today.

Later that afternoon, I asked each student to share an “artifact” from his or her own life—a ring, a guitar, a passport, a journal. Each item told a story, reminding us that what comes from the past can offer valuable wisdom for the future.

My first year of teaching had begun.

As a new teacher, I eagerly learned from the experienced educators around me who modeled careful planning, clear expectations, genuine love for their students, and enthusiasm for their subject matter. They weren’t simply managing classrooms—they were cultivating places where students could flourish. I wanted to build that kind of classroom too.

Perhaps your classroom reflects that same balance of warmth and order. But what happens when that carefully built environment is suddenly disrupted?

A new student arrives with significant learning needs. Your curriculum changes because of new legal requirements. An administrator reassigns your classroom, your schedule, or even the subjects you teach. A tragedy shakes your community, and your students arrive carrying burdens that make today’s lesson seem insignificant.

Perhaps, like me, you’ve experienced all of these. You’ve invested hours planning meaningful lessons only to watch those plans unravel because of circumstances beyond your control.

What do we do when faced with these challenging times?

What if we paused and asked ourselves, Whose kingdom am I building?

It is easy to begin treating our classrooms like our own little kingdoms—our plans, our routines, our carefully organized systems, with students who fit neatly into our expectations. Good planning is important. Students thrive when learning is purposeful and well organized.

But ultimately, this classroom doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the King.

I am not the ruler of my classroom; I am His servant. I have the privilege of shepherding the students He has entrusted to my care. That means I must continually ask Him, What are You doing in my students’ lives today? What do they need from me in this moment? Sometimes His answer requires me to hold my plans loosely and respond with flexibility instead of frustration.

When challenges arise, they become opportunities to trust His sovereignty more than my schedule. Instead of asking, How can I get my classroom back under control? perhaps the better question is, How is God inviting me to participate in what He is already doing today?

What is He showing me about my students’ needs today?  I’m His under-shepherd, not the queen or king of my classroom.  Am I humbly listening to Him?  Am I willing to alter my plans when extenuating circumstances warrant?  Am I recognizing His sovereignty over my classroom?

Lord Jesus, You are building Your Kingdom. Thank You for granting me the privilege of loving and serving students as You have loved and served me. May I be a Kingdom builder for You today! Amen.

Copyright Elizabeth Claasen.

A high school history teacher and curriculum developer, Elizabeth has served overseas for nearly twenty years. She loves nerdy trivia, her family, and the Word of God.