They cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: Take

courage! It is I. Dont be afraid. (Matthew 14:26-27)
Dont Be Afraid
The words do not fear appear almost one hundred times in the Bible.
This admonition is a spiritual vitamin we must swallow daily. When we face our
classes for the very first time or encounter professional obstacles that we cannot
move by our own strength and power, it is normal to experience anxiety and perhaps
a bit of fear. Jesus is telling us today, as he told the disciples two thousand years
ago, Take courage! It is I. Dont be afraid!
In Matthew 14, Jesus wanted to be alone to pray so he told the disciples to
go on ahead without him. The disciples were out on a boat without Jesus. They were in the middle of a lake in the
middle of the night. The wind had risen and they were fighting heavy seas. For some of us and some of our students,
this picture is a great metaphor for our current situations in our classrooms and/or personal lives. When the disciples
saw Jesus walking towards them upon the water, Jesus immediately responded to their fear without upbraiding them.
He reassured them. He alerted them to His presence and said, It is I.
Clark Donaldsons first year of teaching was one of those experiences of fighting heavy seas on a boat in the
middle of a dark night in his professional life. Although he now teaches in a public high school, his very first teaching
assignment was in a private Christian school teaching junior and senior high students. He was responsible for teaching
Spanish, English, and Texas History to seventh, ninth, and eleventh grade students. This small school most resembled
a one-room school with all academic levels of students being taught in the same classes. There were no basic, honors,
or advanced placement classes as one has in the public high schools. Clark knew it would be a great challenge to reach
and motivate all the students in such academically diverse classes. He was hoping his own youth would be an asset, not
an obstacle, in reaching the students. He was twenty-nine years old but he was short in stature so he was initially often
mistaken for a student by both the students and the faculty.
Clark had taken only two Spanish classes in college, the minimum required for foreign language, and he was
assailed with waves of doubt about teaching that particular class. The Spanish class he was going to teach had
successfully run off the prior teacher. (Yes, that happens in private schools too.) Despite this professional challenge,
the waves crashing around him, Jesus did come to Clark from across the water. He took control of Clarks fears,
became the captain of the classroom, and began leading the way.
Personal private prayer while on the job and praying with other faculty members became a routine which
Clark maintains to this day even while now working in a public school. He quickly learned to follow the plans the
Holy Spirit gave him in prayer. Mr. Donaldsons foreign language classes began each day with scripture and worship
songs in Spanish. As well as teaching the general course work, he had students memorize key scriptures they might
need in leading others to the Lord in Spanish. Both Clarks and the students knowledge of Spanish grew immensely.
Fittingly, God sent Clark on a mission trip to Latin America the very next year. In Brazil and Uruguay he was
able to minister all the scriptures and songs he had learned. Some of his students also later went on mission trips to
Spanish speaking countries. God connected their teaching and learning experience to the real world and used it to bear
fruit in His kingdom. Through the storm, God had prepared all of them for their hope and future in Him.
What waves are hitting your boat right now? What storms are pounding your co-workers and students boats?
Do you see Jesus walking on the water coming to calm these storms? He is there. Welcome Him on board.
He not only wants to calm you and be the captain of your classroom, He wants to work through you to help calm the
storms in others boats as well. Remember, you are Jesus body, His hands, feet and tongue in the public schools. Let
Him use you in new and creative ways to bring His calming, reassuring peace and presence. Let Him use you to help
prepare the students for their hope and future in Him.
Prayer: Lord, give us a vision of you and remove all of our anxiety and fear. Give us the courage to trust you and let
you be the captain of our professional lives.
Application: When you are in professional storms, take your eyes off the waves and focus on Jesus. Tell him, I
will trust in you, and then do it. Comfort others in their storms. In Jesus name tell them, Dont be afraid.
Sharing: When have you been the most fearful in your professional career and how did you overcome this? What
challenges did you face your first year of teaching?

CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE! (For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 22