Encouragement for Students

It was my first day of second grade, and I was happily playing on the school playground during recess when one of my former teachers, Mrs. Miller, frantically came to me at the monkey bars with a jolting question:

“Kristie, where is your brother?”

Of course, I had no idea! Our school was located up the hill from a dangerous highway and directly across the parking lot from a busy shopping mall. The horrible possibilities for a brand new kindergartener seemed endless!

It turns out that Brian had just decided he’d had enough of playing outside on a noisy playground with strangers. Without being noticed, he had slipped back inside to sit alone in the quiet darkness of an empty classroom. I’m sure his refreshing moments of solitude came to an abrupt halt when a very panicked Mrs. Miller finally tracked him down!

The first days of school can be very overwhelming—and not just for homesick kindergartners! New classes, new teachers, new friend groups, a new schedule, and just the daily challenge to do right can produce anxiety and stress.

We can’t do much about your schedule or your hard classes, but we will be praying for each of you by name as you face this new beginning. Find encouragement in Deuteronomy 31:6,

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

School is a place where many students fear that word fail. But this verse says that God will not fail you. God never gets an F. He is always loving and powerful, “100% A+.” You can trust Him this school year!