Joshua 1:9
We frequently experience changes in leadership in the field of education. New principals often worry that not all the teachers will follow their lead. In fact, many teachers leave a school along with an exiting principal. And it is discouraging. Teachers often experience feelings of inadequacy. I excelled in my teacher preparation program and learned alongside some of the best supervising teachers during my internship, but I remember how painfully inadequate and unprepared I felt when I was assigned my first class. It was what I wanted. It was what I was trained to do. To me, having my own classroom was the "promised land." Yet I trembled in anticipation of it.
In those times, when the land seems alien and we are called to lead, we can remember that God is with us. Each day we face new challenges, troubled students, and difficult parents. Be not afraid. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5).
I admit that there is much to fear in our country today. It is not at all like in the days of our own fathers. Yet God is the same. The promise is the same. And with Him we can conquer many of life's challenges.
Today you may be standing on the hillside overlooking the "promised land," wondering if it is safe to enter. Changing schools, teaching a new subject, or becoming a teacher for the very first time can sometimes make you feel ill-equipped, insignificant, and even unable. The truth is, you are prepared, you are of pivotal importance, and you are able-with God you are all that and more. Focus on the truth and follow God's command. Be not afraid nor dismayed!
These seven affirmations are provided by the Daily Apples website. I have added one of my own to the beginning of this list that I encourage you to remember before anything else:
God is with me!
1. I am proud to be a teacher.
2. Teaching is one of the most honorable and noble of all professions.
3. I love what I do and know that my enthusiasm is contagious.
4. I bring knowledge, dedication, and understanding to my classroom.
5. I make a positive difference in my students' lives.
6. My students will be better people because of me, and I will be a better person because of them.
7. I know what I give to my students will come back to me in many wonderful and unexpected ways.
