Rachel Whisman

As a teacher, I am inundated with a complexity of questions and comments in a matter of seconds throughout the school day. Some start immediately when the first student enters my classroom, and the rest are faithfully sown throughout the rest of the day. My mind spirals as I try to decipher and answer them in the most loving way possible. I want to be attentive to their questions and comments, so I have to take time to pause and think…or try my best to close my mouth nonchalantly with my hand before I burst out laughing with a remark they made. I need to evaluate the situation. Sometimes, ask further questions to clarify in order to press for the truth. I am called to exercise patience and use “wait time” for them to respond. Some call this decision fatigue. It is what plagues teachers in the first couple of weeks of school.

This overwhelming sense to provide the best care to these children impressed upon me the realization of my finitude and the glorious reality that God is not finite. I can not possibly fathom all of their needs, yet God can, and He does. When voices are coming from left and right and I can’t hear them all at once, I need them to slow down as well as myself to focus. However, our God never has to slow down and think through what would be the best decision. He knows and executes it seamlessly (Isaiah 55:8-9). When I have to press through the hurdles of questions, emotions, tears, and my own impatience, God doesn’t. He is never impatient, never acting out wrongly or late. For time itself submits to Him (2 Peter 3:9). When I am at a loss for words when something happens in the classroom, I have to pray in my head, “Lord, help me. I need wisdom. I don’t know what to do.” Yet, He is Himself wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). The perfect embodiment without flaw and always correct. When I am weary of that one student always asking questions, God never is. His hands are open and always available (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Knowing He is wisdom ought to humble us to accept the way He has created us with limits. We are not Him nor ever will be. We must fully lean on Him and lovingly submit to His wisdom. At the same time, His Spirit is the one that infuses and invigorates our actions to declare His excellency in the day-to-day decisions we will make every day. We will get tired, but He won’t. We rest in Him and trust in His strength that will revive us to do what He has called us to do and make decisions from the classroom to the home or workplace. He will surely do it (Isaiah 40:28).

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30