Back to School
- April Ross
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
“He has great plans and all we need to do is let Him.”
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
It’s August, the summer is winding down, and if you’re a mom of school-aged kids, whether it’s public school, private school, or homeschool, you likely have their school year on your mind. It might be the cost of school supplies, the curriculum, who the teacher will be, wondering about new friends… and the list goes on and on. Or, like me, maybe you just hate to see summer go, knowing you’ll miss the days of carefree fun with no crazy schedules, and just having adventures with the kiddos.
But here’s the one thing I always remind myself each school year:
God is in control, and He will direct my kid's path better than I can. He has great plans for them!
I like to think about how Mary must have felt sending Jesus to the temple to learn. I’m sure she felt the same as us. Worrying if He’d make it to and from “school” safely, whether the Rabbis and other boys would treat Him with kindness, or if He’d learn to trust God more and more through the trials of life.
God loves our kids more than we do. This is a hard thing to process, because we love our kids so much, and it’s hard to imagine anyone loving them more. But He does, and He wants the best for them. He has great plans and all we need to do is let Him. So as we draw nearer to that ‘First Day Of School’, let go of those fears and give them to God. God has already gone ahead of our kids and knows how to guide them through all the challenges they may face this year.
And guess what, momma? He has your best interests at heart too. He is there for us, His loving and guiding hand is parting the way for us to be faithful in our walk with Him. Trust Him to have your back (and your family’s as well).
Remember to teach your kids to lean not on their own understanding, but in all their ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct their path.
Faith Follow-Through:
This week, take some time to grow in motherhood and faith:
Monday:
After reading today’s devotional, write down a prayer list for what you want to see God do for your children this year. Include anything you’re anxious about also.
Tuesday:
Read and meditate on Psalm 139. God knows everything, nothing is hidden from Him. His plans are greater.
Wednesday:
Listen to “Good Plans” by Red Rocks Worship, and pray the chorus over your kids. (Here are the lyrics if you’d like them)
Thursday:
Have a family discussion about how your kids are feeling about going back to school. What are their worries? What are their hopes or expectations? Then, pray together, giving them a chance to lay their hearts out to you and to God.
For moms that have adults or children not going back to school, I encourage you to just check in with your children. Ask them how their hearts are doing, what worries, hopes or expectations they are dealing with. And then pray with your children, or for your children.
Written by April, mom of 3 kiddos, praying for a great school year!
