The Teacher

My heart goes out to so many in our church family. Right now it seems that so many are facing difficulties of one kind or another. Some are dealing with a variety of health issues; others are dealing with financial troubles of one size or another. Death is looming around the corner for a loved one; for another it appears that death may be knocking soon on their door. Some families are dealing with relational conflicts. Our family is still taking one day at a time as we have been entrusted with the guardianship of my sister’s kids.

Crisis and difficulty do not come ‘one size fits all.’ Problems come in all shapes and sizes, but when it is ours it is always bigger than we are. What one person may overlook or think is trivial is a real heartache for another. The truth of the matter is that there are no small predicaments; every uncertainty grows seeking to overwhelm us. Yes, molehills really do become mountains we are incapable of climbing.

Many of us may already feel as though we are teetering on the edge of a cliff, so what are we to do when we face our growing mountains of trouble? Could it be that we just need to stop looking at our problems long enough to see that God is with us?

• [20] The Lord may give you troubles and hardships. But your teacher will no longer be hidden from you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. [21] You will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left."
  Isaiah 30:20-21 (GW)

Every moment of every day, the good and the bad, comes to us with God’s full knowledge of it. God is never surprised by a crisis. What Satan intends to use to tear you down, God uses to teach you. The Lord is our teacher and is revealed to us through hardships. God is not hiding or away on vacation leaving us to try to figure things out on our own. God is right there with us. The Lord is our Teacher; He not only points out the problem, but will also show us the solution.

Whatever you may be facing today trust the Teacher. God will direct you; He will show you which way to turn, when to stop and when to go. So take your eyes off the problem for a moment and look around the classroom. God is right there with you to help you take the next step.