DEFEATED
January 24, 2019
Prayer: Please keep us courageous today, Lord, knowing that You are with us. May we bring praise and honor to Your name.
Scripture: ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,’ declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 NIV
I was so defeated and physically weak that my knees felt like jelly. I couldn’t even talk to the principal about this until late in the day because she was attending a meeting. That would mean struggling through all my difficult morning classes with this one thing on my mind.
I had given a first grade child a B instead of an A on his report card, and the father was in a rage. Even though I gave concrete reasons for my decision, he wanted to “explore” the matter further. The more we talked, the worse it had gotten. His final word to me was that he would be calling my principal as well as the Board of Education!
Fortunately, the principal supported my decision, and the superintendent gave little credence to this man’s complaint. My reputation with them solidly kept me safe, and the matter eventually blew over.
When assaults come to us, we can easily fold under the pressure. We assume the worst and take the threats personally. As Christian teachers, we try hard to be fair, and to make wise decisions. Sometimes we are maligned regardless. At these times it helps to remember that it is not “flesh and blood” that we contend with, but “powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12). How good to know that “the One who is in (us) is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) We can leave the outcome in His hands.
Copyright Shirley Wilson. Email [email protected]