By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

Summer is over and your classroom is full. Regardless of how long you have been a teacher, you may be feeling anxious as the new school year begins. What will this year bring? How will your students behave? How will the parents behave? What changes will the administration implement?

It’s easy to let anxiety take over. Remember, though, that you have a gift. Not everyone is cut out to be a teacher, but you are! When God created you, you were given a specific talent to teach. And God’s not sending you into the classroom unprepared or even alone. The Lord is with you as you teach. Even in secular schools, teachers can still rely on their faith to help them through bad days or difficult situations.

Teaching is a calling. Answering that call took a leap of faith. Now you must keep the faith. Not every day will be sunshine and rainbows, but that’s true for teachers and Christians alike. You will be tested. Yet your reward will be great. Hold fast to your relationship with Jesus and this academic year will be more than you could have ever imagined.

From Generation to Generation

You probably already know that you have a major impact on your students beyond the curriculum you teach. It’s not just about molding young minds; you’re influencing their morals and values, too. That influence carries over to their homes and can stay with them for all their lives. You are literally shaping the next generation. Sounds heady, right? It is a big responsibility, and not one to take lightly, but it shouldn’t be scary. All adults have a responsibility to positively influence the lives of all children. Teachers simply do it in a very direct way.

Luke 6:40 – A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Talk about setting an example for others. Jesus set the ultimate example as the ultimate Teacher, but you set an example for your students, too. If your students woke up tomorrow and were just like you, would you be pleased or ashamed? If the example you set demonstrates the Fruits of the Spirit, then you’ll probably be pleased. If my question made you squirm, then perhaps you should take a moment to pray on it.

Your students look up to you. They’re always watching you. I don’t say this because I want you to second-guess yourself or feel like you always have to be “on,” but to remind you of the power and responsibility you have. Think about the teachers you had as a child. Some were likely amazing and maybe even the reason you became a teacher yourself. All these years later, they still have an impact on your life. You can have the same effect on your students.

Exodus 18:20 – You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

If you teach in a Christian school, you have opportunities to teach directly from the Bible and to speak God’s Word to your students. But that’s not what I want to focus on in this verse. Even if you teach in a secular school, and even if your students are diverse and follow many different religions, you can still “show them the way in which they must walk.” Regardless of someone’s faith background, much of Western civilization can agree on basic principles including treating others the way you want to be treated (the Golden Rule is found in most cultures and religions). This means that regardless of the type of institution that employs you, you can still show your students what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. You have the power to bridge divides within your school and especially within your classroom. Show your students that people of different races, creeds, and political affiliations can be friends. Set the example and see how you can change the world.

Vaulting Over the Bar

It was true two thousand years ago and it’s still true today: teachers will be held to a higher standard. Jesus and the other rabbis of his time were. You are too. The bar is set high, but you can meet it as long as you remember that you God put you on this path for a reason. You have the gifts and talents required to be an exceptional teacher. The standards society places on teachers are nothing compared to what you’re capable of!

James 3:1 – Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

Teaching is hard. I’m not referring to classroom management, though that can be challenging at times. When I say teaching is hard, I mean that teachers face a lot of judgment and criticism. Parents, community leaders, even total strangers, have opinions on what you say and what you do and especially on what you teach. Some of those opinions are totally unfair, but some of it is valid. As teachers, you will face a level of scrutiny not found in other occupations. It comes with the territory. The good news is that you know this judgment is coming and therefore you can prepare for it.

Have a support system in place. Connect with other teachers who are happy to listen to you and provide advice. Ask someone who is completely outside of the teaching world to be a listening ear, too. If needed, connect with a mental health professional. Explore different outlets for expressing your emotions. Art therapy is great for creatives. Rage rooms are quite popular! You can’t escape the judgment, but you can face it with your head held high.

Romans 2:21 – You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?

Teaching isn’t a one-way street. Teachers learn from their students as much as their students learn from them. And while continuing education is often mandated for teachers, I know many of you are naturally eager learners. What might you learn this year? Keep your mind and heart open to the possibilities. Consider what new traditions you may learn from a student who recently immigrated. Maybe one of your students will provide insight on a topic that you never considered before. Earlier in this post I wrote about the example teachers can set for their students. Your students can set an example for you, too. There is room for everyone to learn something valuable this year!

The Real Heroes

Teachers deserve the reward they will receive in Heaven. When you chose to be a teacher, you embraced a calling that is so much bigger than yourself. What you do each school day has a lasting impact. Teaching matters. You matter.

I pray you have a wonderful academic year. You’ve got this, my friend.

All scripture verses are quoted from the World English Bible, public domain.