I Think I Can, I Think I Can
Posted in Daily Focus on Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Like the little blue engine, my chant each morning during my early years of homeschooling was "I think I can do this!" I'm sure if others had heard my thoughts, they would have laughed. Trying to gain the confidence I needed for homeschooling, I thought that if I said the words enough, I would eventually believe them. Truthfully, I wasn't quite so sure I could homeschool. The idea of teaching my five-year-old seemed easy enough, but that was before I started teaching phonetic sounds. Since I had learned to read with sight words, teaching phonics was a whole new experience. Already, I was facing a roadblock of insecurities, and my homeschooler was only in kindergarten! What was I going to do when we got to high school?
Joshua knew the insecurity of facing new challenges in his life, too. Taking over where Moses left off, he inherited the responsibility of leading God's people into the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1-2). Can you imagine how overwhelmed he must have felt following in Moses' footsteps? Understanding his fears, God reminded Joshua three times to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1: 6, 7, and 9). Encouraging him further, God also told Joshua, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Joshua 1:5).
Are you feeling insecure today while you lead your children in their education? If God has led you to homeschool, the same words He spoke years ago to Joshua apply to you as well. You can become a courageous homeschooler, but it won't come from tooting your own whistle and saying, "I think I can." Instead, you must realize that God is the One who powers your engine to climb any homeschooling hill. In His strength, you'll arrive at the wonderful destination of successfully homeschooled children. "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9).
Lord, some days being responsible for my children's education scares me. Remind me that You alone give the strength and wisdom to stay on track. Please, encourage me now and help me to be courageous in the Holy Spirit's power. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments(17 comments)
LAURA F 04/15/2009 03:12:25
Thank you! I am new to homeschooling for the next school year. And I already feel a little overwhelmed by all the choices and opinions on homeschooling. This is a good reminder that I am never alone. God is with me! Have a wonderful blessed day!
STEPHANIE K 04/15/2009 15:59:56
I have to tell you that I love the devotions coming in every morning! I forward them to my husband because I find they often address where we both are with schooling and parenting. I don't think a daily devotional ever made me feel so connected and confident on this journey through homeschool and parenthood. Thank You!
BRIDGET B 04/15/2009 17:19:29
I personally believe when we encounteer something we are not familar with we have a tendency to hesitate to act in the GOD given roll that GOD intends for to act in. as a result we never know how things will turn out if we do not stand up and sway our little shoulders back and walk with confidence and wag our little tail, knowing this might be unfamiliar territory but I will claim it and conquer it and be glad that I took on the task.
Sincerely
Miss. B.C. Biggins
REBEKAH P 04/15/2010 08:04:59
Wow! I love reading your little encouraging messages. You are so candid & it is so encouraging. Thank you for reminding us-our source for strength is found in God!
JACQUELINE W 04/15/2011 05:06:52
Thank you. I have one child (of 5 at home with me) I struggle with daily to stay on task and to show me that he understands...some days wake up saying "God, show me he understands! I know he can, but show me he can." I know I'm not the only mother who has a child I struggle with, sometimes though, it is nice to be reminded of that. :-)
KENT D 04/15/2011 05:09:06
Thanks so much! I've been homeschooling for 13 years. I have soon to be 3 teenagers and a 5 year old. We are going through many rough spots right now and this devotional was very encouraging to me today. Sometimes we just need that 'I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!'. :-)
ELAINE P 04/15/2011 08:21:31
very timely for me right now...we were going along just fine in our first year of homeschooling, when my husband is relocated to another state. Our routine has been set off tracks now with relocation preparations. I wonder now how I will ever get the kids back on school mode. This devotional was very encouraging to me, today.
DEBBIE H 04/15/2011 18:03:13
I'm in my second year of homeschooling. Four years ago I did not know it even existed. So, to find that there are even "Homeschool" devotions here is one of the biggest blessings in my life! I am eternally grateful.
AMBER K 04/16/2011 06:28:43
Thank you!!!! I am so grateful to have found these daily devotions. I have been praying about homeschooling my kids next year and the fear os overwhelming me! But I truly feel like God is calling our family to go this route. So I couldn't have read this at a better time. God is for me!! :)
TAMMY S 04/17/2011 08:00:48
I have to admit that this post was exactly what I needed to read!! God put it on my heart a couple of months ago to homeschool our kids this coming school year. I will have a 4th grader and a 9th grader! I've doubted why He has chosen me to do this at this time in our (their) lives, but I know it IS Him calling me and I do not want to miss His call. I'm beginning to get more excited as i get more educated about it. Please pray for God's hand and guidance on our family. Away we go! :)
MALINDA M 04/15/2012 12:22:10
I too will be new to homeschooling this fall. I was so excited and confident about it for months....until I told my boss and the kids' principal plus all my family that I'm going to do it. That's when the uncertainty hit like a ton of bricks! I have to look back and remember that God is the one who even brought this to my mind and know that He will help me complete what He has called me to do.
MALINDA M 04/15/2012 12:23:20
did anyone else have a skeptical husband at first? How has it turned out for you?
KATHY S 04/15/2012 12:47:22
MALINDA
If your Principal was from a Public School, they will discourage as they receive Federal funding for each child you have in school.
Other people generally tend not to understand as anything that's out of the "norm" doesn't settle well with them.
Go with your instinct and God's direction.I've been homeschooling since last November, and my son has never been happier.
Don't let others rob you of your Joy and confidence! It will be wonderful for you and your children !
BRANDI P 04/15/2012 14:43:36
Thank you. I have been struggling a bit with Pre-K and began to worry about next year as my will son start kindergarten. You reminded me that it is not through my own strength, but through God's that this can be accomplished.
TABITHA J 04/15/2012 17:19:12
Just take it one day at a time.
JEN H 04/15/2012 17:19:38
It is so nice to hear of all who are starting to home school this coming school year, I am as well. I have asked why is HE calling me to do this at this time in my life as well. I have a soon to be 3rd, 4th 6th and 10th grader but I know it is not my plan because this is not something I would have chosen. He puts people in our lives to make ripples and brings us to places that will will at some point fulfill his wonderful plan. When we doubt his plan, we need to remember all the ORDINARY people he chose throughout the bible to fulfill his purpose and we are called to do the same. Have a wonderful day and good luck to all of you(us) who are starting this amazing journey that our creator has called us to do, we do not want to miss the call or disappoint him because we did not have enough faith. jen
Cathy G 04/15/2012 18:34:17
Thank you for this post! I am new to this group, but not to homeschooling. I am homeschooling 3 of my children, all have special needs. I am learning that as much as I "build them up" and encourage them I rarely give myself that same gift. I need to give remember this knowledge that I CAN do it.