Walking Confidently into the Classrooms of Life

My son Wesley absolutely loves preschool. His teacher sends me pictures of him all day—photos of him painting, playing with his friends, learning musical instruments, exploring the playground, and taking a much-needed nap. Preschool has been one of the best decisions we’ve made for him. He knows that he loves it, yet drop off is always tough.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, he is eager to get to the school. He can tell when I’m filling his backpack with diapers and readying his lunch box. He even brings me his socks and shoes, ready to face the day. When we arrive at the school, he walks in all by himself, happily wearing his backpack. But once we get to his classroom, that’s another story. 

It always starts with him being excited to see his teacher and his friends, but then he remembers that another person he loves brought him here and will be leaving. Then the waterworks start, and he runs back to me for a huge hug. 

Last week was especially hard on him, and he wanted longer, tighter hugs. And as I hugged him, he tried to crawl up me so I would have to pick him up and take him home with me. Even though I did feel bad for him (it’s hard to see your kid cry), I handed him off to his teacher. I reassured him that he would have fun and I would be back later and then I headed home. Minutes later, he would be playing as if the emotional goodbye never even happened.

Forgetting That There Is More

Sometimes I find that I’m exactly this way with my faith journey and relationship with God. I know that spending time with Him will be restorative, yet I cling onto things of this world to bring me entertainment and validation. Instead of walking into the classroom God is beckoning me towards, I stay in the hallway, stubborn and immovable. When I sense that God is calling me into something new, I get scared to step out of my comfort zone and take the next step in faith. And even when I know something is good for my faith and I sense God in it, I allow complacency to seep into my life. 

My own stubbornness surprises me sometimes. I’m always at peace, feeling accomplished, and fully restored when I engage in the things I know bring me closer to God. It’s similar to that feeling you get after you finish reading a book, complete a running goal, or achieve something really important to you. It’s as if I can sense Him in a deeper way, the connection unparalleled to anything else. 

But I can truly be so forgetful, just as Wesley is when he arrives at school each day. He forgets just how much fun he has in that place and the relationships he’s building. Similarly, I forget the goodness and peace that comes from truly connecting with God and trusting him with my future. I run away from the hard things, and I lack discipline at times. I’m often just like my son, stubbornly grasping for whatever I think will save me, forgetting that there is so much more life to live if I would step forward into the next classroom of life.

Into the Classroom

I don’t want to be someone who is desperately clinging to the past and my worldly comforts. I want to find peace and contentment in the things of God, boldly stepping out of my comfort zone daily. The woman I long to be is living in the present moment, connecting with the Lord every chance she gets, and has a deep, intimate relationship with God and senses the Spirit in all things.

How can we be the kind of people who step out of their comfort zones in faith, unafraid (or with a healthy fear) of what comes next? How can we walk confidently in the present moment, connecting with God every chance we get? And how can we cling to the things that restore us and build us up in the things of God instead of the things of this world?

We identify the habits we have that are drawing us away from God.

What habits do you have that are pulling you away from God? It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint these habits, as they are so ingrained in our way of living. But we have to be aware of where we are falling short. Our habits make us who we are and show what we love. We have to find where we can build new habits that draw us nearer to God and better show our love for him.

We identify the places we look to for comfort outside of God.

Where are you looking for comfort, validation, and acceptance in this world? What are you clinging onto that is only a false sense of comfort? We have to remember that worldly comforts may bring satisfaction, but it’s always only temporary. The world cannot give us comfort in the way that God does. Look to Him instead!

We remember that life begins outside of our comfort zone.

I was a kid when I first heard the quote “life begins outside of your comfort zone,” but it wasn’t something I really believed in until I was much older. Sometimes it feels good to stay inside our little circle, but it gets really boring always playing it safe. We have to do the things that we know will help us grow even if it’s hard. Just like Wesley has to make the choice to go into his classroom every day, we have to make the choice to step out of our comfort zone in faith too.

We remember that God meets us where we are.

God will never lead us somewhere that he’s never been. He won’t take us on an adventure that He isn’t willing to walk alongside us. God meets us exactly where we are in any season and in any condition. We have to remember that even when we aren’t sure where God is leading us or we are afraid of what comes next. God is with us, every step of the way—without judgment and with unwavering compassion.

At the End of the Day

When I pick up Wesley from school, he always runs to the door to greet me. His teacher and the administrators always tell me how sweet he is. His teacher hands me his backpack, lunchbox, and artwork, and I take him up in my arms. As we walk to the car, he tucks his head into my shoulder, happy to be reunited with his mom. In that moment, I know that it’s worth it. The tears at drop off are unmatched to the skills he’s learning and the reunion at the end of the day. 

Stepping into the classroom is a choice we must make in faith, whether that is a new season, a fresh opportunity, or the opportunities we have every single day to connect with God. As we step into the various classrooms of life, we have to let go of the things that hold us back: our idea of how we thought it would go, our fear of what comes next, our worldly comforts, and our habits that no longer serve us well. And I promise, what we leave behind is never as good as what’s coming.