The big state testing starts today at the elementary school. For most kids, it is no big deal. For teachers, mostly just an annoyance and disruption in actually getting to teach these kids.
But for this little grandson missing his two front teeth, it is like facing Goliath empty-handed and alone. He is overwhelmed before he even enters the room. So many pages of questions stare him in the face. So little time. Hurry, hurry.
What if I don’t know the answer? What if I don’t finish in time? For him, it is not about being the best. He always does his best. But what if that is not enough? The big what-ifs cast huge scary shadows. What if he’s last? What if he’s the only one left? Hurry, hurry. And that absolutely paralyzes him, like the Israelites staring the hordes of Assyrians rushing towards them in full battle gear. Run for your life, and you discover your shoe laces are tied together.
I want to tell him that this test does not define him. Someday, he won’t even remember this. But for him to know that God loves him and has amazing plans for his life to bring Him glory. And nothing will stop that.
I want him to hear the Almighty’s words:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1. 9
“Do not fear. I am with you.” God is faithful. Even today. Even in this.
All I can do is pray for him today. And to let him know-- no matter what --that nothing can separate him from the love of Jesus. God does not just show up. God is bringing him through.
As a second grader, may he learn that, and know that, and never forget that.
But what are we facing today? Even us big kids face dilemmas and hard stuff in all kinds of monster costumes. We cry out in our prayers, “God, I can’t do this.”
And He replies, “Good. Because I can. Lean on Me.” God pours His strength all over it. We walk with Him one step at a time. We are not alone. He has a strong hold on us.
Fear minimizes our eyesight and confuses our hearts.
Recently I was faced with a daunting situation. I prayed, “God, I am just not comfortable or at peace about this.”
And instead of a soothing empty answer, I felt like God was saying, “I don’t want you to feel comfortable or competent in this.” Because if we are comfortable, we don’t rely on Him. We pray less. We don’t even acknowledge His presence, and we take the credit. God did not give me a soothing answer. He gave me His strength.
God always wants something more for us than we see at the moment. And something very different than our feeble ideas we contrive without coming before Him.
When we respond to God, He leads us in ways and in places we have not been before. Not to the “right answer” but to Him
When we are following the Lord, there will almost always come a point of wondering if we made a wrong turn, or we don’t know the answers, or not finishing in time. That’s when trusting God comes in. That’s when we know we are not on our own. Nor ever meant to be.
For we are powerless
against this great horde
that is coming against us.
We do not know what to do,
but our eyes are on You.
2 Chronicles 20. 12
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