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Stay the Course
We are at that point in the school year where it can be hard to be found faithful. It happens to all of us-students, teachers, parents, staff. We can be tempted to either give up or coast to the finish of the school year. The routines have become monotonous, the homework seems never-ending, the grades just are not as high as we want them to be, or the spring weather lures us to pursue outdoor pleasures, and we are suddenly ready to quit.
Our culture accepts change and quitting as part of life. Many Americans change jobs 9-12 times[1], and they will move 11 times[2]. Only 60-67 percent of college students will graduate[3]. There are many reasons for each of the above statistics, but they reveal an unsettledness that has become inherent in our lifestyle.
It's human nature to want to quit when life is hard, and the Bible is full of examples of people who asked God for an escape such as Moses (Num. 11:11), Elijah (I Ki. 19:4), Jonah (Jon. 4:2) or those people who failed to finish well such as Solomon. The Bible also gives us examples of those who were forgiven and restored after failure such as David and Peter.
Our God is an enduring God. The attributes of God that we most favor-his love, his mercy, his goodness-are all grounded in his faithfulness. Over and over we are told that his steadfast love endures forever, his faithfulness endures forever, and his righteousness endures forever. How interesting that we are not just told that he is faithful, or that he has steadfast love; instead, we are told that these endure forever.
As believers, how do we reflect God’s faithfulness in our lives and character? Our greatest hope is the result of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and in response to this, Paul says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58 ESV).
At school, this looks like finishing the school year well, but it also means looking resolutely to the future. As we make plans for next school year, it means staying committed to Christian education that is both biblical and quality. It means taking next steps trusting that our faithful God will continue to provide and protect. Those of us whom God has called to be involved as teachers, parents, and supporters must continue to be faithful. We must stay the course.
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