Trust

Yesterday my mind was focused on Isabel's fate--who her first grade teacher would be. I have already prayed about this, and told God that I would let it go. But it is SO hard. There is a teacher who is so terrible, according to some people, that the year would be ruined if she got her.

We ran into Mrs. Crandall, Isabel's kindergarten teacher (who plays a big part in placing her in a class), in Kroger. I ambushed her and asked if Isabel got that teacher that Julie Tibbs, Mary Grace's mom, didn't like. She said, "I can't remember which teacher Isabel got, but it's probably not that one that Julie hates. I don't remember, though. And it could change." Not reassuring. In other words, Maybe. I don't know.


I was in the midst of telling Lee about this when Lily brought me a Scripture passage on a slip of paper. (It was from the Blessings Jar in the kitchen, and she was showing me that Hannah Egan had written on the back of it.)

The Scripture read: "If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent." Psalm 91:9-10

"Trust me. No harm will befall you." Lord, my mind races. Does this apply to this situation? Where in the Bible does it say, "Don't get involved in which teacher your child gets in school. Just sit back and let her get what she gets and don't get upset." Is Pinkalicious' mother really so wise? (Yes, she is, in the context she says it. "No more cupcakes.")


The greater lesson, I think, is that it doesn't matter. I should be looking at Isabel's classroom placement in the context of You. What can I do, what can Isabel do, to enrich the lives of those around her in her first grade class? I should be praying for Isabel's teacher, whoever she is. Lord, I pray for whoever Isabel got as her first grade teacher. I pray that the children will learn kindness, empathy, compassion and goodness from being in her classroom. I pray that they will learn to do their best, but not to be intimidated by tests and trials. I pray that Isabel will come to rely on You in her circumstances. I pray that You will give me the know-how to teach her how to do this. I pray that my focus will remain on You, and that Isabel will learn from that.


Here is a passage from Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love.

Colossians 1:16 tells us that everything was created for God; "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."


Don't we live instead as though God is created for us, to do our bidding, to bless us, and to take care of our loved ones? Psalm 115:3 reveals, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." Yet we keep on questioning Him.

Lord, I want to stop being so focused on all the little problems and rest in You. So I will meditate on this passage: 

"If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent."

I also need to fix my erroneous definition of "disaster." The opportunity to learn and grow spiritually through difficult circumstances is not a disaster.

In Your son's name I pray,
Amen