"Trust"

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 
1st Corinthians 4:2 


Last week, across our country, students had planned to walk out of their classes to demonstrate a unified voice in demanding more strict gun control laws and to focus attention on a much needed area in our nation. I was proud of my school for encouraging the students to gather with their classmates and teachers to discuss their concerns, express ideas to change this area of our lives, and to openly discuss the reasons for the horrific events we are seeing in our schools. I believed this was much more beneficial to our students than a “walk-out” where many would not understand the reasons for their actions. As I sat with my group of 23 sophomore students, I felt like they all had something to say but were hesitant to speak up in the crowd. It also did not help that I am new at my school and have not had an opportunity to spend much time with these young people. I began by reading a statement to them that described the events from Parkland, Florida that occurred exactly a month ago. As I read, the thought crossed my mind, that one of the many tragic consequences of events such as this is, with each horrible event, young people begin to trust less. They lose trust in the words of a parent that tells them all will be okay. They lose trust in the words of a teacher who says each student is important. They lose trust in the words of a pastor that describe how they should react in times such as this. And they lose trust in the words of our Lord and Savior who says He has overcome the world.

Young people especially, but we all need someone who we can trust. Hopefully it is a parent, but if not, a trusted teacher, pastor, coach, or friend. We need that person who will jump over any hurdle, regardless of the size, to help us in a time of need. We also need to be that trusted person to someone else. Our young people desperately need more people they can trust. Never in our nation’s history has it been more difficult to be a good young person. They are constantly pulled in a million directions and they are bombarded daily with the many problems of our world. They need more people they can trust. They should feel safe, comfortable, and wanted in their home because they trust their parents to protect, provide for, and want them. They should feel safe in their schools because they trust their teachers to protect them as their own, provide the direction they need, and value them as a person. They each need to be a trusted friend who another student depends on for a kind word, a smile, and acceptance.

Most importantly, I pray they will trust the words of Jesus Christ. His words tell us in Proverbs 3 to “Trust in the Lord with all our heart, and to lean not on our own understanding”. Our world, and the people in it, will continue to fail each other, trusts will be broken, and faith in people will continue to dwindle. However, we can always trust the words and promises of our Heavenly Father. Even in the midst of an uncertain world, we can trust that He is always with us, if we only ask. But, much like a child that does not understand their parents reasons for decisions, we also will not understand our Father’s decisions, will, or timing.

I prayed today that, although I may not understand His will, I will trust Him. I also prayed that the young people I met with will have a friend, teacher, parent, or pastor they can trust. Most of all, I prayed they will trust their hearts and minds to their Heavenly Father and, although they will not always understand, they will trust.

Chad

Pray in our schools

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

I believe we have taken the idea of prayer in school to be a verbal prayer that is made before a large group of people or maybe a teacher’s opportunity to pray in front of his/her class. We have heard the argument for and against prayer in our schools for a very long time, and with the recent horrible events in Parkland, FL the calls for "Prayer in school" is heard daily. We should probably end the argument for "Prayer in school" and begin to quietly, "Pray in our schools".  I believe the constant, quiet prayers of a teacher, administrator, or student will be heard and rewarded by our Heavenly Father.  We will begin to see the changes our country needs to happen in our homes, communities, and schools. Throughout the bible we are given examples of how we are instructed to pray, or not to pray. In Mark 6:5 we are told to "not pray like the hypocrites who love to pray where they will be seen and heard on the streets". In Matthew 14:23 we read about Jesus going onto the mountain to be alone and pray. And in Mark 1:35, we see where Jesus went away to a solitary place to pray. Jesus, the only Son of God, knew the importance of quietly praying in a solitary place. 

I believe, if people of faith, will follow the example given to us by Jesus we will change our schools. As I enter my school building each day I can, in the solitude of my mind, pray for the young men I will be with during football workouts. I can walk through the locker room as they prepare to go to class and pray for each of the young men. I can walk through the halls between classes and say a quick prayer for the students and teachers, even if I do not know their name. I can take the first few minutes of each class period and pray for the diverse group of children who I will spend the next hour teaching. When the final bell of the day would ring, and the students would leave for the day, I will have prayed for possibly one thousand people. The prayers may have only occurred within my mind but God will hear each one, and He definitely knows each name. Each of us, whether we work in a school or not, can pray in our schools.  We all have attended a school, have a school in our community, have children who attend a school, or simply drive by a school on our way to work.  If all Christians will begin to pray for the administrators, teachers and most importantly, the children in our schools, I believe God will hear our quiet prayers and He will change many lives for eternity while others will still be fighting for an opportunity to loudly pray for others to hear.

Chad