Day by Day
Posted in Daily Focus on Sunday, August 3, 2014
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
As a homeschooling parent, do you ever wake up in the morning and want to run away and hide from your responsibilities? Last night’s dishes, last week’s laundry, and yesterday’s schoolwork all clamor for your attention. Your baby’s cry reminds you of yet another need, and your young toddlers seek your affection and time for play. On top of that, your church is having difficulty finding help with Sunday school and the nursery, and you know you should offer your assistance. Exhausted before the day has even begun, you throw the covers back over your head and think, “Why would God give me all this responsibility? Doesn’t He know I can’t take care of everything? Where can I go to get away from all of this work?”
When the pressure of obeying God’s call seems too much, it’s tempting to look for the easy way out. Just ask Jonah. God had given him the task of prophesying to the wicked city of Nineveh, but Jonah decided it was too big of a responsibility. Hopping a boat to Joppa, Jonah worked just as hard at running away and hiding from God’s call as he would have worked if he obeyed. Fortunately, God gave this reluctant prophet another chance to accept the job He had given. After being thrown overboard and spending three days in the belly of a big fish, Jonah decided that being a preacher wasn’t that bad, even if it was in a wicked city like Nineveh.
If the responsibility of facing another year of homeschooling is causing you to run and hide, be encouraged. Although you can’t see the way through the work right now, the Lord promises to uphold you with His wisdom and strength when you need them (Isaiah 41:10). As you obediently follow His will in homeschooling today, He continues to guide you with the next step tomorrow. Step by step, day by day, you will get through the work and accomplish all He has planned for your homeschooling family. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).
Heavenly Father, the responsibility of homeschooling is weighing me down. Please, give me the courage I need to face the new year and show me how to lead the precious children You’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Comments(13 comments)
LISA B 08/03/2010 16:40:15
Oh how I love these devotionals! And I sooooooooooo need them!
Thank you!
Blessings+
Lisa and Family
SUSAN M 08/03/2010 20:30:52
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Just today my husband asked me how I felt and I said "like running away". It just seemed like the best option at the time....to run and hide from things that seem so overwhelming. But what is Faith without an obstacle to overcome. It was "Mountains" he said we could move with Faith and not in ourselves but in HIM. Homeschooling is definitely an adventure of faith in God. A God who loves our children more than we do!
SHERRY R 08/03/2011 04:24:27
I do appreciate these devotionals, but I have to disagree w/ something in this one. The church may need helpers, but that doesn\'t mean you should feel you \"have to\" do it. As a homeschooling Mom your first responsibility is to your kids, and serving others together as a family can be a better way to give back, then by the mom taking on one more responsibility for her. Boundaries is important, and God\'s Word teaches us to have them, just as God does. Sometimes the harder thing for a homeschool Mom to realize is she\'s letting the cares of the world in other areas lead her more and more away from taking care of her family 1st. It is ok to say \"no\" to things. Pray about each one first before endeavoring to help in the outside responsibilities and that it\'s God calling you to it, just not a feeling of \"I have to\"...a sense of obligation that may not have been what God called you to. I believe there are many great things in life, and we need to be careful to say \"no\" to good and great, and say \"yes\" to the best. Keeping priorities straight is always a challenge for a homeschooling family.
MAYA T 08/03/2011 08:20:09
I have felt alone, but I am not alone. These scriptures just reminded me of where God was in all of this. He is right there with me. I absolutely love the scriptures in these devotionals. It gives me a chance to go and make sure that they are marked in my bible for later study and reference. Thank you Lord. You saw exactly what I needed today. Amen.
CATHERINE D 08/03/2011 08:50:22
Thank you so much for today\'s devotional thought. I definitely needed the reminder - the message was so on point with where I am feeling about the new school year. For some reason, today\'s devotional wasn\'t received in my email box. I am so thankful that I took the time to come to the site and read it out here or I would have missed it! Blessings.
STEPHANIE C 08/03/2011 09:19:58
Thank you for the for the wonderful encouragement, i realize this day that I can\'t do all that he requires without his divine intervention. He is my strength and my strong tower. He will equip me for the task he has for me!!! He is my confidence.
LUANA B 08/03/2011 10:39:11
We started our school year today and I really needed this. Luckily, it has been much smoother than I had anticipated! Thank you for these wonderful devotionals and thank you God for helping each and every one of us deal with our struggles.
JOAN H 08/03/2011 11:20:53
I am still in process of finalizing my plans for this year. Last year was a rough one, and I was sorely tempted to throw in the towel. We are giving it another go this year, and you cannot imagine how blessed I was to read this today, and at this time. God is so good! Even to one such as i.
TERESA T 08/03/2011 12:34:13
Just setting up our computers for our new curriculum has me on edge. I\'m no techy. I relish the prayer on this devotional
LISA N 08/05/2011 13:05:29
I am reading this a day late. I just today realized that I had signed up for he daily devotionals without even knowing it existed. That shows how busy and scatter brained that I am right now. A clingy baby, busy toddler, and three school age children all keep me very busy. Plus being a Children Church Teacher, and other areas that I feel preasured to comit to that I am still praying about. Not to mention financial changes we are facing, and my husband just starting a job that requires 60+ hour weeks. I am very overwelmed at times, but one thing that I have learned is that God will never put more on us than we can bare. We just have to pray for His guidance and be still until He answers. Sometimes it may seem to us that He is late, but He is ALWAYS on time. Though I know this, I still at times need a reminder. Thank you for these devotionals. I will now be reading them each time I receive one to add to my daily reading.
LISA R 08/03/2012 06:14:20
I read this post and felt like it was written about me. We are beginning our homeschool adventure this year with our 14, 9, and 6 year old daughters. Along with homeschooling; I am a full-time student, Sunday school teacher, and American Heritage Girls leader. I often have self-doubt as to how I can manage all these things that I have decided to take on. It doesn\'t help when the world around me says that I need \"me time\". Posts like this one reminds me that God will be the constant in my ever changing days and that I just need to lean on Him when I feel overwhelmed. Thank you!
KATHY S 08/03/2012 06:39:34
For some reason I am not overwhelmed yet by the thought of starting our 2nd year of homeschooloing. Actually, I am looking forward to it.
Now the dishes and laundry and house cleaning, that overwhelms me daily, even now in the summer!
2 years ago, I had been doing voulenteering every Saturday at our church. I realized I was not physically capable to do it and had to gracefully bow out. In My heart I wanted so badly to continue, but my body gave out.
God knows where I am in life and he knows what I can and cannot do.
And, I am realizing what I can and cannot handle.
My son and his home schooling are most important, housework and other activities get done as I am able. I\'m learning not to stress so much about the other things anymore. Stress is not good for me or anyone else.
I believe that God has a plan for each one of us, and each one of the plans is a little different. So, trust in God and he will show us what his individual plan is for each and every one of us.
Lorin Turner 08/04/2014 13:09:31
This will be our first year homeschooling our 14 year old son. I say "our" because I have a significant chronic illness with 2 more surgeries planned this fall. My amazing husband, who works 12 hour days plans to help by teaching as much as he can after work. My wonderful mother will come help while I'm completely down after surgery & do what she can. Several people think we are crazy for trying to homeschool this year. Sometimes I question our decision too but when I do I hear the Lord's loving and encouraging guidance. The laundry may take a back burner & the dishes may look like a skyscraper but following the will of the Almighty and knowing that my child is on loan for me to prepare for Him gives me strength. Thank you for this blessed reminder of the courage & power only He gives. Please pray for us.