Homeschooling Comfort

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Let's face it. Some mornings you wake up as a homeschooling parent and say, "If I have another day like I did yesterday, I'm going to lose it!" Between your little ones fighting and your older children taking the lazy way out of their schoolwork, you're tired of being a policeman. Ironically, those discouraging days seem to be the very ones when someone calls wanting your encouragement to start homeschooling. You feel like the proverbial blind leading the blind and think to yourself, "If she only knew!"

The stressful pressures of life can tempt anyone to give up. The apostle Paul discovered that fact about his situation when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life." Clearly, Paul was out of his comfort zone, but he didn't quit. Trusting God for everything he needed, Paul learned how to rise above his circumstances, even when facing death! With the comfort he received from God, he encouraged others to remain faithful in suffering for Christ (2 Corinthians 1:4-5).

Are you experiencing a "crunch time" in your homeschooling? Hang in there! Many have gone before you and survived the stress of being homeschooling parents. The difficulties you're experiencing will get easier, and someday the pressures won't feel as strong. Even when you feel like you can't cope, God's presence is with you to guide you and give you comfort. "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work" (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

Lord, Your Word says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Strengthen me today and help me to obediently follow You to accomplish Your will in our family. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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Comments(17 comments)

MELISSA L 04/11/2009 16:03:49

Today's daily focus hit the nail on the head as they say. We have been homeschooling for 3 years now and will be starting the high school years next school year. There are days when your child is tired because the school work they are doing is so much more rigorous then those of children in brick and mortar schools. They don't want to get up out of bed early enough to finish by mid-afernoon then they complain because they are having to work until late in the evening. Then one day you suddenly know it is all worth it when your child comes up to you and tells you something finally makes since and that when they were in public school nobody would ever slow down enough to really explain it to them. That moment makes all the hard days and times go right out the window. Your heart melts and and you know you are doing something very special for your child that will benefit them the rest of their lives. The last two or three days of the Daily Focus emails have really touched me in ways that are hard to explain. Don't take this wonderful chance you have with your child or children for granted because it will all be over with before you know it and you will miss it even though you don't think you will right now. The thought that my baby is about to start high school and that my oldest has already moved out of the house has become a little overwelming for me but that just makes me want to cherish each and every day I have with my daughter here at home even more. I hope you do the same with your kids. Happy Easter and God Bless you all.

TINA H 04/14/2009 04:37:29

I have to tell you that these devotional are wonderful! They really speak to my heart and encourage me in this walk called "homeschooling". There are days, like the one mentioned in this devotional, when I feel like enrolling my daughter in public school! Then I remember why I am homeschooling her and push through the struggle. I know that the Lord will give me strength to be the teacher, policeman, and encourager for my children. Thank you so much for these devotions. I look forward to reading them each day!

HOLLIE H 04/11/2011 06:27:26

Oh, how I needed this one!

Bless you!

DAYNA B 04/11/2011 09:31:09

I am homeschooling our three daughters. Our 6th grader who left public school in the middle of 5th grade. Wants to go to any school that is in a building and consists of children other than her siblings. She says homeschooling is too boring. Our girls complain that they have no friends,

especially the 6th grader. They are not alone in their dilema because I too have no friends. This devotion was helpful in reminding me to just keep going. One foot in front of the other, so to speak.

Thank you!

VERGINIA T 04/11/2011 10:24:52

This is our 20th year of homeschooling or six children. We have gained friendships and support through CoOps and tutored classes. I asked (actually, \"pressed\") my husband one year to give me his top three goals for homeschooling to help guide my myriad of decisions through the year and those goals have helped me make daily decisions. His goals were: They would know their God, would have strong academics and learn how to be friendly. Homeschooling has kept me on my knees and needy of the Holy Spirit\'s leading. We have had many trials and seen the many ways that God \"restored the years the locusts have eaten.\" Our children love God, have many friends and half of them so far have achieved their college B.A\'s by age 20. Life has challenges; God is Almighty. Persevere!

URSULA O 04/11/2011 10:46:37

This really spoke to me today. I felt like I was the only one having to battle a teenager that is being homeschooled. There are so many obstacles that I face each day such as not wanting to get up and do schoolwork, working on assignments until late into the afternoon, hearing disapproval of homeschooling from family and neighbors and also having my homeschoolers complain about not being in public school. However, I know my son better than anyone else and I know that if he were in public school I would have a greater battle than I am already facing. When he lfinally \"get is\", I know that it is worth it all. I try not to get discouraged and pray for strength and wisdom for each new day.

LINDA E 04/11/2011 15:07:49

Thank you so much for your devotionals!!!! I have been telling everyone about them. God Bless you

JEN H 04/11/2012 05:14:41

Melissa,

THANK YOU FOR THOSE ENCOURAGING WORDS, I HAVE NOT STARTED HOMESCHOOLING YET BUT WILL BE WITH THIS NEXT YEAR AND I KNOW IT IS GOD\'S WILL AND PURPOSE AND HE IS JUST USING ME AS A TOOL TO FULFILL IT.

DAYNE,

SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME THAT IF YOU MAKE THE JOURNEY FUN THEN THEY WILL ENJOY IT MORE, POLISH THEIR NAILS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, LET THEM DRESS UP FOR THE OCCASION, FOR INSTANCE IF IT IS A HOLIDAY OR THEIR B-DAY. ALSO, ANOTHER GOOD IDEA IS MAYBE TO JUST DO ONE SUBJECT A DAY AS FAR AS WORK AND LET THE REST OF THE DAY BE A HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE. AS I SAID, I AM STARTING THE JOUNEY NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND THIS IS ADVICE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME. I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING, HE WILL REWARD YOU, STAY STRONG. JEN

Fred B 04/11/2012 05:49:36

thankyou! A very timely devotional! We are currently in our 18th year of homeschooling. I l also have someone wanting to \"watch\" how we do it! I am definitely feeling the \"blind leading the blind!\" But I also realize that God is in control and I must do my utmost to encourage those just starting!

BETH B 04/11/2012 07:17:40

To the dear mother who is dealing with \"no friends\" for her and her children, PLEASE find a godly homeschool group! It is wonderful to get connected to other families like yours! Please don\'t give up!!

Beth

MARIAN S 04/11/2012 07:22:22

The Daily Focus and the comments are so helpful and inspiring. Melissa L, you are so right about not taking this chance for granted with your child. It is going by way too quickly; my daughter is also starting high school in the Fall. Fortunately, she wants to be homeschooled and begs me to please not put her in public school. She had enough in K - 6th grade and loves being homeschooled. Sometimes I don\'t want to call it \"homeschool\" because people get a different picture in their mind than what we actually do. My daughter goes to ballet 5 times per week and goes to a lot of area homeschool parties. Actually, the public school kids are at home doing their homework in the evening while my homeschool student is at her favorite activity, ballet. She has the freedom to sleep in until 9:00 a.m., so she is alert for her schoolwork, while the public school kids get up at 6:30 a.m. to be at school on time and have to do their work while they are tired. She has so much less stress at home than at public school, because we customize her schedule according to our needs and she can get a great education without having to deal with all of the public school drama. She is very motivated and has set some very high academic goals for herself. I am so going to treasure these next 4 years of high school with her!

MICHAEL B 04/11/2012 07:54:52

This devotional did hit right where I am a lot of days. The kids do not want to get up and frankly neither do I! Days like this one today I want to throw in the towel and quit. My daughter can not find her Literature book, and tells me not to go into her room to look for it. Every day I pray for strengh and wisdom to make it through. I am glad there are other homeschool moms who feel the same way. I feel like I suffer each day. All day I need to remind myself that Jesus is there to help me. I can do all things through Jesus who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13 We need to keep going even when we have really dark days. By the way I am Lora not Michael.

KATHY S 04/11/2012 11:58:38

I think we all have good and bad days when we are homeschooling.

I\'m really glad AOP allows us the joy of reading and commenting with eachother. For me it\'s almost like therapy, being able to voice my opinion to others who understand and relate to where I am at too.

I guess we have to look at all the good things that homeschooling brings, then look at the times we feel negative.

I know that when I do this within myself, the good always outweighs the bad.

That doesn\'t mean that all of our days are perfect here, but at least I can rest in the peace that my child is safe, well cared for, and happy in homeschool. Those are things that I cannot say about Public or Private school.

So all my sisters and brothers in Homeschooling, keep in prayer, rest in Jesus, and everything will work out for all of us.

God Bless!

LAURA S 04/11/2012 13:54:16

This email came in my inbox just as I needed it! God bless AOP for posting these for all of the homeschoolers.

I know that I (and other homeschool parents) feel as though there are days we need extra uplifting in our homeschool journey.

Blessings to all!

TERESA SULLIVAN 04/11/2013 16:47:57

Heather The first months were rough with m y 7th grader= awful! She cried and yelled, but when she calmed she did fairly well. Life is much more peaceful now. You have a lot more time to teach than you think.. Jr high years tend to be repetitive in material covered (either you are covering 5th=6th grade material or cover watered down high school material0. So - if you do not meet all your educational goals this year, it is ok. This year aim for relaxation and try for a little cooperation in basics (reading, writing, and math). There must be something that makes homeschooling special from your child's perspective. My younger (5th grader) loves hour long lunch breaks, and deciding what order to do her subjects in. The oldest is happy that she might get to skip a grade next year ( and be ahead of her public school friends). Give positive reinforcement whenever your child happens to do what she needs to do. Have "no mention of school time"

SUZANNE CARRIER 04/12/2013 10:08:04

Just a quick note to all parents of "tweens" and teens. Starting about 6th grade we have noted that the children become difficult to deal with. This is natural and we have gone through it with each of our 3 children. They are experiencing big changes physically, both boys AND girls. You've got to hang in there and remember they would be difficult even if they were in public school....it would be worse because you would lose your good influence and it would be strenghtened by negativity out there. Love them. Be firm....and ask God for wisdom. If parents are feeling burnt out it's usually because we are using the wrong methods or MINDSET. Remember you are not a school, but a home. Strive for peace and don't fall under school mentality. Keep your home learning relaxed. Check your own motivations. Pray for the children daily and let them know you love them. God uses all situations to teach us things. From Suzanne, Mom of three....26, 23, and 12.

Sarah Knox 04/12/2014 02:29:47

This does come at the perfect time for me as well. I had a cry fest earlier this week. This is my first year of homeschooling my four children, ages 15, 12, 10 & 8. Ive just been worrying about my son (the oldest), this being his first year of high school, I feel like he's missing out on certain things that public schools offer, such as FFA & automotive class. I have family that kinda like me is not very familiar with home schooling. They are not against it but they like me worry about the things mentioned above and the lack of friends he has. I know without a doubt that God has called me to this, and I want to be in his will. I guess I still have ALOT to learn. Thanks for the encouragement!!!


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